ST. LOUIS — It couldn't happen again, could it?
But it did. It most certainly, excruciatingly did.
After taking an 8-6 lead over the Cardinals in the eighth inning Thursday night, the Rockies coughed it all up in the ninth, losing 9-8 on Greg Garcia's bases-loaded, walk-off walk against struggling Rockies closer John Axford.
It was the most painful loss of a painful season for Colorado.
St. Louis all-star third baseman Matt Carpenter — 4-for-5, two homers, four RBIs — began the rally with a double off left-handed reliever Boone Logan. Enter Axford, who walked Randal Grichuk and then gave up a single to Kolten Wong to load the bases.