Cardinals can't keep up with Nolan Jones, Rockies

Nolan Jones went 4-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs as the visiting Colorado Rockies defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 9-4 on Friday to start their 10-game road trip.

Elias Diaz drove in two runs for the Rockies, who won for the third time in five games. Jurickson Profar and Ryan McMahon each scored twice and had one RBI.

Rockies starting pitcher Chris Flexen (1-5) allowed three runs on 10 hits in five innings. Jake Bird, Matt Koch and Tyler Kinley combined to allow one run in the last four innings.

Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright (3-6) allowed seven runs on nine hits and two walks in three innings. He remained stuck on 198 career victories.

Nolan Gorman hit two homers for the Cardinals, who lost for the sixth time in their last eight games. Nolan Arenado also hit a homer.

Colorado broke out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Profar walked and Ezequiel Tovar singled to open the frame, then Jones hit an RBI double with two outs and Diaz followed with a two-run single.

The Rockies doubled their lead to 6-0 in the second inning after Brenton Doyle hit a single and Profar walked again to set the stage. McMahon hit an RBI double and Brendan Rodgers and Jones hit RBI singles.

Arenado put the Cardinals on the scoreboard with his second-inning homer.

The Rockies got that run back in the third inning. Elehuris Montero hit a double and scored on Profar's RBI single to make it 7-1.

The Cardinals cut their deficit to 7-2 in the bottom of the inning, Tommy Edman hit a single, moved to third on Lars Nootbaar's double and scored on Paul Goldschmidt's infield single.

McMahon and Rodgers drew walks to start the fourth inning, then Jones hit an RBI single to make it 8-2.

Gorman's fifth-inning homer cut the St. Louis deficit to 8-3, then his seventh-inning homer cut it to 8-4.

Colorado pushed its lead to 9-4 in the ninth inning on singles by Jones, Diaz and Montero.