Cardinals 7, Rockies 0
ST. LOUIS -- Thursday night's comeback apparently carried over to Friday night.
After rallying with three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to steal a win from the Colorado Rockies in the series opener, the St. Louis Cardinals didn't resort to dramatics in a 7-0 win at Busch Stadium.
Pounding out 14 hits against six Colorado pitchers, St. Louis (66-37) used a five-run sixth inning -- all with two outs -- to blow it open.
Rookie left fielder Stephen Piscotty drilled a two-run double off the center field wall to make it 4-0. Second baseman Kolten Wong followed with an RBI single and shortstop Jhonny Peralta belted his 15th homer of the season, a two-run shot over the center field wall.
Michael Wacha (12-4) worked seven shutout innings for the victory, giving up four hits and a walk while fanning seven.
Kyle Kendrick (4-12) absorbed the loss, leaving after one inning with right shoulder inflammation. He allowed four hits and two runs.
The Cardinals maintained a 5 1/2-game lead in the National League Central over Pittsburgh, a 5-4 winner in Cincinnati. The Rockies (43-58) lost their third straight game, dropping to 1-4 on their seven-game road trip.
St. Louis wasted little time jumping on top as third baseman Matt Carpenter led off with a 434-foot homer over the center field wall, his 13th of the season and third in the last two games.
Right fielder Jason Heyward added a sacrifice fly in the first against Kendrick.
Carpenter just missed another homer by inches in the second when his liner to right struck the top of the wall.
The Rockies didn't give Carpenter a chance to collect his sixth extra-base hit of the series in the fourth, intentionally walking him with runners at second and third and two outs. The gamble paid off as Piscotty looked at a third strike to leave the bases loaded.
NOTES: St. Louis traded for bullpen help Friday, acquiring RHP Jonathan Broxton from Milwaukee for rookie OF Malik Collymore. Broxton was 1-2 with a 5.89 ERA in 40 games with the Brewers. ... Colorado LF Corey Dickerson (right rib contusion) didn't start Friday night after being injured while diving for a ball in the fifth inning Thursday. ... To make room for Broxton on the 40-man roster, the Cardinals designated RHP Marcus Hatley for assignment.