ST. LOUIS (AP) — Albert Pujols launched a pinch-hit grand slam and drove in five runs, Adam Wainwright pitched seven sharp innings and the St. Louis Cardinals routed the Colorado Rockies 13-0 Thursday for a three-game sweep.
The Rockies lost starting pitcher Antonio Senzatela and right fielder Charlie Blackmon in the second inning to leg injuries. Senzatela crumpled to the ground after attempting to cover first base and Blackmon was removed an inning after beating out an infield single.
The NL Central-leading Cardinals won their fourth in a row and sent Colorado to its fifth straight loss. St. Louis has won 12 of its last 13 home games and has taken 12 straight from the Rockies at Busch Stadium.
Pujols hit his 690th career home run, connecting off Austin Gomber and capping a five-run third that made it 10-0. It was Pujols’ 16th career grand slam — his first as a pinch hitter — and it moved him into a tie with Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and Dave Kingman for 10th-most slams of all-time.
Pujols added an RBI single.
Wainwright (10-9) gave up three hits, two of them infield singles. He struck out seven, walked none and retired his final 13 batters.
Génesis Cabrera and Chris Stratton each pitched a scoreless inning of relief to complete the four-hitter.
Lars Nootbaar hit a two-run homer. Paul Goldschmidt added two doubles and a single.
Senzatela (3-7) struggled prior to his injury, giving up five runs in 1 2/3 innings. The right-hander is 0-5 with a 6.41 ERA in his eight road starts this season.
HOME COOKIN’
The Cardinals’ win streak over the Rockies at Busch dates to Aug. 1, 2018. It is the second-longest home winning streak against a club for the Cardinals, one shy of their 13 in a row against the Cubs from Oct. 3, 1999, to June 16, 2001.
GOLDEN GLOVES
The Cardinals did not commit an error in any of the six games during the homestand. It was their first errorless homestand of six or more games since Aug. 1-7, 2008. St. Louis went 5-1 in the games against Colorado and Milwaukee.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rockies: C Elias Díaz (left wrist sprain) took swings Thursday and is playing catch pain free. RHP …Chad Kuhl (right hip flexor strain) will make a rehab start for Triple-A Albuquerque on Saturday night.
Cardinals: LHP Steven Matz (left MCL tear) will throw off a mound this weekend. RHP Jack Flaherty (right shoulder strain) is expected to throw 65-70 pitches for Double-A Springfield on Sunday.
UP NEXT
Rockies: RHP José Ureña (1-4, 4.80 ERA) will start the first of a three-game series against visiting San Francisco and RHP Logan Webb (11-5, 3.00 ERA) on Friday night. Ureña is 0-3 with a 7.77 ERA over his last five starts.
Cardinals: RHP Miles Mikolas (9-9, 3.44 ERA) will begin a three-game series at Arizona, which will start LHP Tommy Henry (2-1, 4.15 ERA) on Friday night. Mikolas is 1-1 with a 2.55 in four career appearances, including two starts, against the Diamondbacks.