Fedde’s Strikes and Helsley’s Save Lead Cardinals to Triumph over Rockies

Iván Herrera’s dual hits and scores, coupled with Masyn Winn’s triple and double and Erick Fedde’s impressive 10 strikeouts, secured a 5-2 victory for the St. Louis Cardinals against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night. Pedro Pagés’ two RBIs and Thomas Saggese’s hit pair further bolstered the Cardinals, who are on a four-game winning streak and are aiming for a series clean sweep in the upcoming finale on Thursday.

Helsley Ties Club Record in Game-Ending Double Play

Brenton Doyle was the first to score in the ninth inning for the Rockies, but his homer was quickly followed by a single walk issued by Matthew Liberatore to Michael Toglia. Ryan Helsley then stepped in as reliever, quickly ending the game with a double play on Sam Hilliard’s first pitch, earning him his 48th save in 52 attempts. This tied him with Trevor Rosenthal’s 2015 club record for most saves in a season.

Cardinals’ manager Oliver Marmol praised Helsley’s performance, stating, “he made it look easy.” Indeed, he has been a key player for the Cardinals, consistently delivering effective performances throughout the season.

Rockies Struggle to Avoid Second Consecutive 100-Loss Season

Aaron Schunk’s single RBI for the Rockies (60-98) underscored their struggle to avoid a second consecutive 100-loss season. To do so, they need to secure three wins in their remaining four games. Following a franchise-record loss of 103 games last season, the Rockies are looking to end their season on a high note with a weekend series against the NL West-leading LA Dodgers.

Fedde (9-9) broke his four-game losing streak with an exceptional seven-inning performance that only allowed the Rockies one run on six hits. His 10 strikeouts, just one short of his career-high set while with the Chicago White Sox, proved crucial in the Cardinals’ victory.

Fedde and Gomber: A Tale of Two Pitchers

Austin Gomber, formerly of the Cardinals, played for the Rockies and allowed four runs over five innings. Gomber, acquired by the Rockies in a trade in February 2021, has since become a mainstay in their rotation.

Despite the loss, Rockies’ manager Bud Black commended Gomber’s performance and endurance throughout the season. However, Gomber was outshined by Fedde’s stellar performance, with the Cardinals’ pitcher stating that the win was a “dream ending” and a confidence boost for the off-season ahead.

Key Plays and Upcoming Games

The Cardinals took a 2-0 lead early in the game thanks to Saggese’s two-out double in the second inning, which brought Herrera home, and Winn’s score on Brendan Donovan’s sacrifice fly in the third. Despite Schunk’s RBI for the Rockies in the third inning, the Cardinals maintained their lead with runs in the fourth and fifth.

Looking ahead, the Cardinals will start with RHP Kyle Gibson (8-8, 4.13 ERA) in Thursday’s series finale, while the Rockies will counter with LHP Kyle Freeland (5-8, 4.95 ERA). The Rockies will close their season with a series against the Dodgers, hoping to avoid another 100-loss season.