DENVER — A tense game that teased going into extra innings when neither side could do much to produce a run for nearly six innings pivoted in the ninth on a couple of walks.
Called on to hold a tie game after eight superb innings from starter Adam Wainwright, reliever Giovanny Gallegos walked two batters with two outs, and that brought the Colorado Rockies’ No. 8 hitter to the plate. On the third pitch he saw, Elias Diaz won the game. Diaz’s three-run walk-off homer in the ninth Thursday at Coors Field seized a 5-2 victory for the host Rockies on Nolan Arenado’s homecoming.
The bolt in the ninth offered such a contrast from a grounded game tied early and controlled late by starter Wainwright. An open can left overnight isn’t as successful making Coors feel flat as the Cardinals’ righthander, who has an ERA less than 2.25 in seven career appearances at the problematic ballpark. He allowed two runs on six hits through two innings, and he avoid trouble when he followed a sea-level truism: avoid walks. There were only four walks total in the game.
