DENVER (AP) -- Carlos Martinez pitched efficiently into the seventh inning for a fifth straight start and Randal Grichuk hit a solo homer, helping the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Colorado Rockies 4-2 on Wednesday to avoid a series sweep.Martinez (7-2) had a shutout until Ben Paulsen's two-run homer in the seventh. He gave up eight hits in 6 1-3 innings and tied a career-high with two singles at the plate. Martinez also scored a run to help the Cardinals salvage the final game of what's been a rough series.St. Louis was outscored 15-6 in the opening two games and had slugger Matt Holliday go on the disabled list with a strained right quadriceps. 
Chad Bettis (2-1) allowed three runs in five innings as the Rockies finished a 5-5 homestand.Paulsen entered as a defensive replacement in the seventh for left fielder Brandon Barnes, who appeared to hurt a leg on a slide into second. Paulsen sent an 88 mph changeup from Martinez into the left-center seats to make it a 3-2 game.Grichuk gave the Cardinals a little more cushion with a solo shot in the eighth.Kevin Siegrist pitched 1 2-3 innings and struck out four, including the side in the eighth. Trevor Rosenthal threw a perfect ninth for his NL-leading 20th save in 21 chances.Colorado was trying for its first sweep of the Cardinals since July 2010 but couldn't solve Martinez as he pitched his way out of jams. Colorado hit into inning-ending double plays in the fifth and sixth innings.Martinez received some nifty glove work from second baseman Kolten Wong in the first with two outs and DJ LeMahieu on third. Wong made a diving snare in the outfield grass, got up and threw out Carlos Gonzalez by a step.Martinez tapped gloves with his second baseman on the way into the dugout.Relying on a fastball in the mid-90s, Martinez has allowed just three runs in 33 2/3 innings over his last five starts.
Chad Bettis (2-1) allowed three runs in five innings as the Rockies finished a 5-5 homestand.Paulsen entered as a defensive replacement in the seventh for left fielder Brandon Barnes, who appeared to hurt a leg on a slide into second. Paulsen sent an 88 mph changeup from Martinez into the left-center seats to make it a 3-2 game.Grichuk gave the Cardinals a little more cushion with a solo shot in the eighth.Kevin Siegrist pitched 1 2-3 innings and struck out four, including the side in the eighth. Trevor Rosenthal threw a perfect ninth for his NL-leading 20th save in 21 chances.Colorado was trying for its first sweep of the Cardinals since July 2010 but couldn't solve Martinez as he pitched his way out of jams. Colorado hit into inning-ending double plays in the fifth and sixth innings.Martinez received some nifty glove work from second baseman Kolten Wong in the first with two outs and DJ LeMahieu on third. Wong made a diving snare in the outfield grass, got up and threw out Carlos Gonzalez by a step.Martinez tapped gloves with his second baseman on the way into the dugout.Relying on a fastball in the mid-90s, Martinez has allowed just three runs in 33 2/3 innings over his last five starts.
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
