Winn homers, drives in 4 runs as Cardinals top Rockies 7-3

DENVER (AP) — Masyn Winn homered, doubled and drove in four runs, Lars Nootbaar scored twice, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Colorado Rockies 7-3 on Tuesday night.

St. Louis rallied to spoil the beginning of the last homestand of Charlie Blackmon’s career with a run in the seventh and four in the eighth. Blackmon tripled and doubled.

Blackmon, who announced he will retire at the end of the season, received a standing ovation when he led off the bottom of the first before getting hit by Cardinals starter Michael McGreevy.

His triple in the fifth gave Colorado a 3-2 lead. It was the 68th of his career, the most in franchise history, but the lead didn’t hold up after starter Ryan Feltner left the game one pitch into the seventh inning with cramping in his pitching arm.

“It was pretty much the whole front side of my arm, just tightness,” Feltner said of his right arm. “It was compounding over the course of the game. Nothing crazy.”

The Cardinals tied it in the seventh when Colorado’s mistake on a comebacker to reliever Victor Vodnik loaded the bases, and Nootbaar scored from third on shortstop Ezequiel Tovar’s wild relay throw on a potential inning-ending double play.

“It was a crazy play and worked out our way,” St. Louis manager Oli Marmol said of the comebacker.

The Cardinals scored four runs in the eighth of Angel Chivilli (1-3) on RBI singles by Jordan Walker and Victor Scott II and Winn’s two-run double.

The rookie shook off a minor injury to drive in a season-high four runs.

“I was in the cages and took a weird swing earlier and kind of tweaked my triceps,” Winn said. “I wanted to be in there, especially getting towards the end of this thing. I want to be out there and compete and play as much as I can.”

Andrew Kittredge (5-5) pitched the seventh inning for the win.

McGreevy escaped the first loss of his career when St. Louis tied it in the seventh. He allowed three runs on four hits in the second start and third appearance of his career. His ERA rose from 0.90 to 2.40.

The Cardinals opened the scoring in the third on Winn’s two-run homer, his 15th of the season.

“Feltner threw the ball well,” manager Bud Black said. “He got stronger as the game went on but unfortunately he started cramping.”

Aaron Schunk’s second home run of the season, a solo shot in bottom of the third, made it 2-1, and the Rockies tacked on two more in the fifth. Schunk’s dribbler to third drove in Sam Hilliard and Blackmon hit his team-leading fifth triple to center.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rockies: 2B Brendan Rodgers was out of the lineup with a hamstring injury. Black said it was a nagging injury and considers Rodgers day to day.

UP NEXT

The Cardinals will send RHP Erick Fedde (8-9, 3.38 ERA) to the mound against former St. Louis LHP Austin Gomber (5-11, 4.67) in the second of the three-game series on Wednesday night.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Colorado Rockies' Aaron Schunk breaks from the batter's box after hitting an infield single to drive in a run off St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Michael McGreevy in the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Ryan Feltner reacts after giving up a two-run home run to St. Louis Cardinals' Masyn Winn in the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies second baseman Aaron Schunk, left, applies a late tag as St. Louis Cardinals' Michael Siani steals second base in the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

St. Louis Cardinals' Iván Herrera singles against Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Ryan Feltner in the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Brendan Donovan, right, jumps away from Colorado Rockies' Ezequiel Tovar after forcing him out at second base on a ground ball hit by Brenton Doyle in the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies' Charlie Blackmon heads up the first-base line after connecting for an RBI triple off St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Michael McGreevy in the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Brendan Donovan, back, throws over Colorado Rockies' Jacob Stallings after forcing him out at second base on a double play hit into by Jordan Beck in the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

St. Louis Cardinals' Masyn Winn follows the flight of his two-run home run off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Ryan Feltner in the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

DENVER (AP) — Now this was finally a role Julian Strawther could sink his teeth into, even if it cost him one.

Playing meaningful extended minutes for first time in the series, the Denver Nuggets guard provided a spark off the bench as he scored all 15 of his points in the second half Thursday night. His big game helped propel Denver to a 119-107 victory over the Thunder and force a Game 7 on Sunday in Oklahoma City.

“That’s the moment you dream of when you’re a little kid — come to the game, having all the guys believe in you, find you in your spots and be able to just make an impact on the game,” said Strawther, a second-year player out of Gonzaga.

Strawther certainly left it all on the floor, including a tooth (a prosthetic one) that happened to pop out in the fourth quarter when he took contact from an Oklahoma City player. He tried to get the officials to stop play long enough to gather it up. But the action was already heading the other way.

A ball boy scooped it up for him in a towel and returned it to the bench. By the time Strawther addressed the media following the game, he had it back in place.

He explained that after he lost a baby tooth as a kid, the adult version — located on the right side next to his front tooth — never grew in.

“We got it back,” Strawther said.

Just like that, the Nuggets are going back to OKC. It was their sole mission after frittering away a fourth-quarter lead and losing there in Game 5.

The Nuggets bench made a big impact behind the play of Strawther, Russell Westbrook (eight points) and Peyton Watson (four).

Sure, the reserves of the Thunder outscored them 32-27n. Before Thursday, though, the average production of the bench was 34-22 through five games in favor of the Thunder.

“(Julian) was amazing,” said Nikola Jokic, who had 29 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists. “He had the big points, the big moments of the game.”

Strawther finished 3 of 4 from 3-point range and 4 of 4 from the line. Above all, he helped the Nuggets maintain their momentum in the fourth quarter as Jokic sat on the bench to get some valuable rest. Strawther played 19 1/2 minutes, his playoff high.

This after being limited to 14 minutes combined over the last three games, including a “DNP” — did not play — in Game 3. Interim coach David Adelman told him to stay ready.

He listened.

“Understanding that there’s a night that I may not check in at all,” Strawther explained. "And there’s a night like tonight where he’s going to ride with me.

“Me and (Adelman) have had a transparent relationship through these playoffs, and I’m really appreciative for him throwing me out there tonight.”

His role may increase even more depending on the status of Aaron Gordon, who hurt his left hamstring late in the game.

“I feel OK. We'll see,” Gordon said after the game. “I'm going to start the recovery process now, to make sure I'm ready for a Game 7.”

Another player who found a groove was banged-up forward Michael Porter Jr., who was 4 of 9 for 10 points. He's been dealing with a sprained left shoulder.

“For me, with what I've been through, there's so much extra things I have to be on top of,” explained Porter, who said he had a lidocaine injection in his shoulder before Game 6 and plans to have another leading into Sunday. “Since I hurt my shoulder I'm not able to be on top of things like I want to. ... I don't feel as comfortable and confident in my shot as I want to feel throughout these playoffs.

“But I'm still out there and still trying to space the floor and shooting it when I'm getting it, whether it goes in or out. I just have to stay confident.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

Denver Nuggets guard Julian Strawther, front, is fouled by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso in the second half of Game 6 in the Western Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets guard Julian Strawther gestures after hitting a 3-point basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second half of Game 6 in the Western Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets guard Julian Strawther reacts after hitting a 3-point basket in the second half of Game 6 in the Western Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)