Rockies Crush Cards 6–0 with Gordon’s Strong Start

By Oliver Wiener July 25, 2025 09:23

The Colorado Rockies delivered a dominant performance on July 23, 2025, blanking the St. Louis Cardinals 6-0 at Coors Field in Denver. The victory marked the Rockies’ first shutout since May 15, 2024, ending a daunting streak of 220 games without a shutout. The key to the lopsided win was a superb start by Tanner Gordon, who pitched six scoreless innings, combining steady control with impactful innings on the mound to fuel Colorado’s success.

Gordon, now 2-2 on the season, limited the Cardinals to just four hits while issuing three walks and striking out three. The 25-year-old left-hander mixed his pitches effectively, avoiding any big innings and showcasing the composure of a pitcher developing into a consistent arm for the Rockies’ rotation. Manager Bud Black praised Gordon’s outing, stating, “Tanner was in control the entire game. He did a great job attacking the zone and keeping the Cardinals off balance. That kind of performance was exactly what this team needed.” Gordon’s ability to keep the Cardinals scoreless through six innings allowed the Rockies to build and sustain momentum on offense.

Offensively, Colorado ignited early with a roaring second inning that put the game firmly out of reach. The Rockies collected five consecutive singles from Austin Nola, Kyle Farmer, Adael Amador, Tyler Freeman, and Mickey Moniak, complemented by a leadoff walk drawn by Ryan McMahon. This sequence culminated in four runs, effectively breaking down the Cardinals starter Andre Pallante (5-7), who was pulled after just 4.1 innings. Later, Jordan Beck added an RBI double in the fifth inning, increasing the lead to 5-0. Ezequiel Tovar capped the scoring in the eighth inning with a solo home run, his 8th of the season, providing insurance runs and pushing the final tally to 6-0.

Tovar, a rising star known for his balanced offensive and defensive contributions, shared his thoughts after the game: “It’s always great to contribute, especially when the team is firing on all cylinders. We executed well tonight, both on the mound and at the plate.” His home run not only added to the scoreboard but symbolized Colorado’s clinical performance throughout the contest.

Behind Gordon’s six innings, the bullpen did its part flawlessly. Jimmy Herget followed with two innings of one-hit relief, and Tyler Kinley closed out the game with a perfect ninth inning, recording a 1-2-3 frame that preserved the shutout. This collective pitching effort helped the Rockies secure back-to-back series wins for the first time since September of the previous year, a promising sign for a team that struggled for much of the 2025 campaign.

Colorado’s win also snapped a long-standing Cardinals offensive streak, as St. Louis fell short for the first time since 2021 in scoring at least four runs at Coors Field under manager Oliver Marmol. The Cardinals’ offense was stifled by Gordon’s command and the Rockies’ defense, with no player advancing beyond second base until the late innings.

With the victory, the Rockies improved to 26-74 on the season, a modest 4-2 record since the All-Star break that reflects their slow but steady progress. Manager Bud Black remains optimistic, noting, “We’re building something here, and games like this show the potential we have when we execute our game plan.”

Looking ahead, the Rockies will need to sustain this momentum as they face Baltimore and other upcoming opponents, with pitching performances like Gordon’s and clutch hitting from players like Tovar being vital. The win boosts confidence and signals that the Rockies can compete even in difficult stretches.