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DENVER – If you’re reading this it’s too late.

The Colorado Rockies season has almost officially come to a close as they are now on the brink of mathematical elimination from the NL West at 72-78. Trailing the division by 12.5 games. Still six games away from that mathematical number in the wildcard at 7.5 back, it doesn’t seem like the Rockies can get there. On Monday, they dropped their contest with the St. Louis Cardinals 5-3.

There were hopes of another Rocktober after the club had won three straight all in fascinating fashion. Friday a walk-off winner, Saturday possibly the best game pitched in franchise history and Sunday another stellar outing from a starter. On Monday, however, it was mundane in LoDo as the Rockies went quietly into the night.

The Rockies jumped out to an early lead thanks to the patience of DJ LeMahieu. His first inning walk turned into a run on a David Dahl single.

After two perfect innings to start the game Tyler Anderson struggled in the third frame. Giving up a leadoff double Jedd Gyorko, Randal Grichuk followed by rocking one into the bleachers to put the Cards up 2-1. The Rockies would have an answer tying the game via a Nolan Arenado single. The Rockies star third baseman drove in, guess who? LeMahieu. He singled earlier in the inning.

Again came the redbirds in the fourth. This time really touching up the Rockies defense. After Anderson retired the first two easily the bottom of the lineup was once again ready to get to him. Gyorko singled and Grichuk reached on an Arenado error. Pitcher Carlos Martinez, who was hit by a pitch in his first at-bat, double on the first pitch which scored two. Then Matt Carpenter singled home Martinez putting the Red Birds ahead 5-2. Two of the three runs scored in the fourth would be unearned.

The Rockies would get base runners on in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings but failed to bring them home.

“Martinez is tough to square up,” Walt Weiss said of the club’s failures to get a big hit. “It’s electric stuff, big time velocity, nasty slider, so even when you get him on the ropes it’s tough to barrel up.”

In the ninth, still down three the home nine finally cut the lead. Ryan Raburn smacked a pinch-hit solo shot to the short porch in right. Charlie Blackmon would follow with a single leaving the Rockies with the tying run at the plate in the ever-hot LeMahieu.

He would strikeout but Carlos Gonzalez extended the game with a walk leaving the tying run at first for Arenado. Battling Kevin Siegrist he swung on and nailed one, but it was straight at the left fielder. Ending the Rockies night, and perhaps their last ditch effort at the postseason.

QUOTE OF THE GAME:

“I thought he did a good job, he had the three-run fourth but I thought we could have better luck than that. He was in control. Ended up getting through seven so it was as good outing.” – Weiss on Anderson

BY THE NUMBERS:

3-5 – Arenado has made three errors in five games.

7 – Tyler Anderson still managed to pitch seven innings.

9-3 – The Rockies need to go 9-3 in their remaining 12 games to finish .500 on the year.

.349 – LeMahieu leads MLB with a .349 BA.

WHAT’S AHEAD:

The Rockies have 12 games remaining, only five more at home. As the Boys of Summer wrap up their season veteran LHP Jorge De La Rosa (8-8, 5.22) will face-off against veteran RHP Adam Wainwright (11-9, 4.51) on Tuesday night. First pitch will be at 6:40.