ST. LOUIS (AP) _ Harrison Bader homered, Dakota Hudson allowed just two hits over six innings, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Colorado Rockies 6-0 on Saturday night.
Hudson (13-6) extended his consecutive scoreless innings streak to a career-high 18 2/3 as the Cardinals won their third straight and sixth in their last seven games. Daniel Murphy’s leadoff double in the second snapped Hudson’s streak of 8 2/3 innings not allowing a hit.
The Cardinals moved 1 1/2 games ahead of the Chicago Cubs, who lost earlier to Washington, for first place in the National League Central. St. Louis improved to a season-high 12 games over .500.
Hudson struck out two and walked three before being lifted for a pinch hitter after throwing 95 pitches. His 13 wins are the most among all rookies and Hudson is the first rookie to lead St. Louis in wins since Matt Morris in 1997.
Tyler Webb, Giovanny Gallegos and Dominic Leone completed the four-hit shutout.
Marcell Ozuna’s two-run single gave the Cardinals a 2-0 lead in the first. Ozuna, who reached three times, has seven RBIs in his last three games and is hitting .455 (5 for 11) during that span.
Bader doubled the Cardinals’ lead with a two-run homer in the second. It was Bader’s first home run in 45 games going back to June 8.
Paul Goldschmidt’s 29th home run of the season capped the scoring in the seventh.
Rockies starter Chi Chi Gonzalez walked the lead-off man in the first, second and fifth innings and each one turned into a run for the Cardinals. Gonzalez (0-5) walked six and allowed five runs over 4 1/3 innings as the Rockies lost their third straight and their fifth in the last six.
Colorado center fielder Yonathan Daza was ejected by home plate umpire Paul Emmel after slamming down his bat after a called third strike to end the seventh inning.
REDBIRDS ROYALTY
The Cardinals inducted third baseman Scott Rolen (who played in St. Louis from 2002-07), right-hander Jason Isringhausen (2002-08) and right-hander Mort Cooper (1938-45) into the team’s Hall of Fame before the game. Each year, fans vote for two modern-era players and a panel selects a veteran player.
TRAINING ROOM
Rockies: OF David Dahl (right high ankle sprain) is at least a week to 10 days away from resuming baseball activities.
Cardinals: OF Jose Martinez (right A/C joint sprain) will leave tomorrow to begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Springfield. 2B Kolten Wong left the game in the seventh after fouling a ball off of his right foot.
