Dylan Carlson drives in 3 runs to help Cardinals bounce back and beat Rockies 8-5

ST. LOUIS — Dylan Carlson drove in his first three runs of the season to help the St. Louis Cardinals rebound from relinquishing a four-run lead to beat the Colorado Rockies 8-5 on Friday night.

“It's really good to see,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said about Carlson. “He needed that. We needed that. Hopefully that's a step that allows him to play with more confidence.”

Carlson stroked a two-run double down the right field line off Matt Carasiti (0-1) after Brendan Donovan put the Cardinals ahead with an RBI single up the middle in the eighth inning. Carlson, who went 2 for 4, also hit a run-scoring single in the sixth to tie it at 5 for his first RBI in 57 plate appearances this season.

“My spirit's been pretty good,” Carlson said. “In this role, you've just got to be ready when called upon and tonight was my night. I came in with a good attitude and trusted the work I put in, and here we are.”

John King, Andrew Kittredge and JoJo Romero (3-1) each tossed a scoreless inning of relief before Ryan Helsley pitched a perfect ninth for his major league-leading 21st save of the season.

Cardinals starter Lance Lynn allowed four runs and six hits with two walks and struck out six in four innings.

“The offense came through,” Lynn said. “The bullpen did their job down the stretch there, and it was a good team win. I've got to close out starts. The last two starts I've thrown the ball really well, but haven't gotten past the fourth inning. So, all in all, I've got to be better. Stuff-wise I'm there. I've got to go deeper and I've got to be better."

Ryan McMahon doubled off Kyle Leahy to lead off the fifth and scored on Alan Trejo’s single to put Colorado ahead 5-4.

Toglia tied it at 4 when his three-run triple down the right field line turned into a Little League grand slam when second baseman Nolan Gorman’s relay throw evaded third baseman Nolan Arenado in the top of the fourth for an error that allowed Toglia to score.

Rockies second baseman Brendan Rodgers left earlier in the inning with a left hamstring injury after noticeably limping as he reached first base while legging out a fielder’s choice.

“Talking to Brendan just after the game here, he felt it slightly when he was going down the line and he pulled up when he felt it," Rockies manager Bud Black said. "It wasn't, in his mind, a significant event but we'll see.”

Trejo pinch ran for Rodgers and remained in the game at second.

Rockies starter Austin Gomber allowed four runs and six hits in the first two innings, but followed that with three perfect innings.

“I thought they did a good job in the first inning of kind of just putting at-bats together,” Gomber said. “After the second, I was kind of able to get into a little bit of a rhythm there and get us through five. I feel like I’ve had some issues in the first inning this year when I haven’t pitched well, so I'm trying to continue to make sure that I work on making that a focus on coming out of the gate better.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rockies: OF Nolan Jones (lower back strain) batted second and started in left field Friday night at Sacramento for Triple-A Albuquerque on a rehabilitation assignment. It was Jones’ first start in the field after serving as Albuquerque’s designated hitter in his four previous games.

Cardinals: C Willson Contreras (left arm fracture) caught a bullpen session and will begin hitting activities Saturday after being cleared by the club’s medical staff.

UP NEXT

Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (1-5, 6.22 ERA) faces Cardinals RHP Kyle Gibson (4-2, 3.69 ERA) Saturday.