St. Louis 9, Colorado 3

Cardinals 9, Rockies 3: Allen Craig homered twice - including a two-run shot to center - and has four in as many four games as host St. Louis won the opener of a four-game series. 

Craig’s first blast off Tyler Chatwood (1-1) highlighted a three-run fifth that put St. Louis up 5-2. The first baseman added a solo shot in the eighth to make it 9-2, giving him eight RBIs in the last four games.

Kyle Lohse (8-2) allowed two runs on nine hits in 7 1/3 innings, the fifth straight start in which he’s gone at least seven innings. He also hit an RBI grounder.

Carlos Beltran extended his RBI streak to a major league-best nine games, driving in runs with a sacrifice fly and a fielder’s choice.

Matt Holliday, who has 16 RBIs in his last 15 games, lined a one-out solo homer to make it 2-0 Cardinals in the third. Colorado’s Tyler Colvin tied it with a two-run homer in the fourth.

Rockies left-hander Josh Outman, a St. Louis native who entered with a 9.32 ERA, was lifted after throwing 70 pitches in three innings. He walked five and allowed two earned runs.

Wilin Rosario hit a ninth-inning solo homer for Colorado, which has lost three straight. Rosario's 14 homers lead major league rookies.

GAME NOTEBOOK: St. Louis improved to 19-18 at home, and 2-2 on its season-high 10-game homestand. … Cardinals first baseman Lance Berkman returned to Busch Stadium for the first time since suffering a torn meniscus May 19, did some running and took a few swings. … Cardinals center fielder Jon Jay had a hit and two walks and scored twice.

• St. Louis will play their next game at home against Colorado. The Cardinals have a W/L % of .561 after a win and .487 after a loss.
• Colorado will play their next game on the road against St. Louis. The Rockies have a W/L % of .367 after a win and .388 after a loss.