One might think that the St. Louis Cardinals are due for a fall after nine consecutive series wins.

Don’t run that theory by first baseman and MVP candidate Matt Carpenter.“I don’t know why it shouldn’t last the rest of the year http://www.tigersfanproshop.com/authentic-jack-morris-jersey ,” he said Sunday after a 12-3 win at Colorado capped a 5-1 road trip and made them 22-7 since July 27. “I don’t see why it couldn’t.”Article continues below ...Carpenter and St. Louis will get a chance to test that theory Tuesday night when they welcome the Pittsburgh Pirates for the opener of a three-game series in Busch Stadium.The Cardinals (72-58) own the National League’s first wild-card spot and sit four games behind the Chicago Cubs in the National League Central. They also have a home-heavy schedule in the season’s last five weeks, playing 19 of their final 31 games in front of friendly fans. They have just one road trip longer than three games for the year’s remainder.For a team that is 11-4 at home under interim manager Mike Shildt, the chance to spend most of the year’s remainder in familiar surroundings has to be an advantage. Then again, St. Louis fans were last heard turning Coors Field into Busch Stadium West in the last few innings on Sunday, even chanting “MVP” as Carpenter did a postgame interview on FS Midwest.“That was cool to hear the fans, especially as many as we had here today,” Carpenter said. “It was a neat experience.”Watching Jack Flaherty (7-6, 2.97 ERA) pitch has been a neat experience at times. The rookie right-hander, who takes the mound for the series opener, has received the endorsement of none other than Hall of Famer Bob Gibson, who probably likes how Flaherty works inside with purpose.Flaherty had everything going for him in his last start Wednesday night at the Los Angeles Dodgers, although he settled for a no-decision in a 3-1 Cardinals win. Flaherty took a no-hitter into the sixth inning for the third time this year before a Joc Pederson homer knee-capped that bid.In Flaherty’s last four starts Michael Fulmer Jersey , including a 2-1 win on Aug. 5 at Pittsburgh, he was allowed just 10 hits and two runs in 25 innings, walking nine and whiffing 33. He has faced the Pirates four times this year, going 2-1 with a no-decision.Opposing him will be veteran right-hander Ivan Nova (7-8, 4.20), who has pitched well in his last three starts but is just 1-2 despite giving up no more than two runs in each game. Nova permitted only four hits and two runs in six innings Wednesday night against Atlanta at PNC Park but suffered a 6-1 defeat.The former New York Yankees pitcher’s last appearance against St. Louis resulted in an 8-4 loss on Aug. 4, when he gave up eight hits and four runs in four innings, walking three and fanning three.Pittsburgh (64-67) has lost seven of 10 to fall out of contention in the division and wild-card races. MILWAUKEE (AP) — The first pitch Eric Thames swung at made him look foolish — a looping curveball that bounced at the plate.“I was like, ‘OK, see the ball and trust whatever happens, happens,'” Thames said.Thames found what he was looking for Leonys Martin Jersey , hitting a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth off embattled Rockies closer Wade Davis, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat Colorado 5-3 on Friday night.“I got a pitch to hit and I didn’t miss it,” said Thames, who hit the second walk-off homer of his career. “That was awesome. Seeing it, feeling it with the sweet spot off the bat and then seeing the team’s reaction and the crowd’s, that was an awesome moment.”Not for Davis. It was his sixth blown save of the season and his second in as many days after losing in St. Louis on Thursday.Davis (1-5) struck out Mike Moustakas to start the inning before allowing a pair of one-out walks. After Jonathan Schoop popped out, Thames hit a 1-1 fastball deep into the right-field bleachers to end it.“I was definitely trying to go about 10 to 12 inches higher,” Davis said. “We had thrown a couple curveballs in a row. I was going to go back to it. I just wanted to get one up and in.”Miller Park continues to be a house of horrors for Davis, who also allowed a walk-off homer to Travis Shaw in his last appearance at Milwaukee with the Cubs on Sept. 23, 2017. It wasn’t forgotten in the dugout.“Our guys were talking about last year when Shaw hit the walk-off against Chicago off Davis: ‘You remember that? Let’s go, let’s get him again,'” Thames said. “We did.”Padres manager Bud Black said he’ll talk with Davis http://www.tigersfanproshop.com/authentic-alex-wilson-jersey , who has blown his last three save opportunities against the Brewers, but had no plans to replace him.“This happens in baseball. You hate to see it. Wade has been such a great closer throughout his career. He’s been through this,” Black said. “He will respond.”SWEET DREAMSThames’ late heroics turned around what had been a pitchers’ duel in which the Rockies’ German Marquez got the better of Junior Guerra.Marquez allowed two runs on three hits and two walks in seven innings. He struck out nine and retired 15 in a row at one point.Guerra went eight innings, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out six.Guerra had been sent home earlier in Milwaukee’s seven-game road trip to get a good night’s rest because of a late start in the series finale in Los Angeles. The rest of the Brewers straggled home at 6 a.m. local time Friday following a 21-5 loss to the Dodgers that set a franchise record for runs allowed.“I got a good sleep,” Guerra said.STAT LINESCorbin Burnes (2-0) came in with a runner on first in the ninth and retired the side for the win.Christian Yelich homered for Milwaukee, while Trevor Story and Carlos Gonzalez went deep for the Rockies.MINOR HOLLIDAYOF Matt Holliday went 2 for 4 with a walk in his first appearance for Triple-A Albuquerque since signing a minor-league contract with the Rockies on Monday. The 38-year-old Holliday hit .231 with 19 homers and 64 RBIs last year with the Yankees.TRAINER’S ROOMRockies: The training staff checked LF Gerardo Parra’s left hand after he appeared to jam it when he was caught stealing in the second. He remained in the game. Marquez also received attention from the training staff after being hit by Moustakas’ liner in the sixth, but came back throwing in the upper 90s.Brewers: RHP Matt Albers (right shoulder) has struggled since coming off the disabled list on July 28, giving up eight runs and recording just two outs over three appearances.UP NEXTRockies left-hander Tyler Anderson (6-3, 3.69 ERA) is holding hitters to a .144 average over his last six starts but has been plagued with a lack of run support. Milwaukee rookie Freddy Peralta (4-2, 3.61) faces the Rockies for the second time in his career. His first appearance against them was electric. The right-hander struck out 13 over 5 2/3 innings, taking a no-hitter into the sixth in his MLB debut in Colorado.