Into a game that could have quickly cratered on his team at testy Coors Field, Carlos “Tsunami” Martinez calmed the rumble from the Rockies in the sixth inning and escorted the Cardinals to a 7-5 victory Friday night. The Rockies had blistered Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas for five runs, two homers, and six hits in the fifth inning before the bullpen entered. Martinez, recast now in relief, quashed Colorado and handled five outs of the 4 1/3 scoreless from relievers at a ballpark that sucks the air out of bullpens for sport.
Looking to gain a game on the Rockies in the wild-card standings, the Cardinals staked themselves to an early 7-0 lead — and then held on through threat after threat after threat.