The Colorado Rockies came into Monday night’s series opener at Busch Stadium looking to bounce back from a frustrating weekend, but instead found themselves on the wrong end of another close game. Despite a promising return to the rotation for rookie right-hander Chase Dollander, the Rockies fell to the St. Louis Cardinals 3–2, unable to hold a late lead in what turned into a bullpen battle.

Dollander, making his first big-league start since early July, delivered one of his sharpest performances of the season. The 23-year-old worked five innings, striking out five and limiting the Cardinals to just one run on five hits. Perhaps most impressive, Dollander avoided the home run ball entirely, something that has plagued Rockies pitchers all year. His poise on the mound kept Colorado within striking distance as the offense worked to find its rhythm.

The game’s first run came in the third inning when St. Louis outfielder Alec Burleson punched an RBI single into right field, plating Victor Scott II from second. That slim 1–0 lead held until the seventh, when the Rockies finally broke through against Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas.

Mikolas had been cruising through the game, carrying a no-hitter into the six inning. With one out in the sixth, Tyler Freeman got the Rockies first hit with a single to right field. However, the Rockies would break through the following inning. Jordan Beck dropped a leadoff bunt single, advancing to second on a throwing error. Mickey Moniak would then single to put runners on the corners. They would tie the game when Warming Bernabel hit a ground ball to score the run.

Later, with two outs, Brenton Doyle laced a single to center field to score Moniak and give the Rockies a 2-1 lead, chasing Mikolas from the game.

But in the eighth, the momentum swung hard back in St. Louis’ favor. With two on and two out, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol called on Brendan Donovan to pinch-hit with two runners on against Juan Mejia. He delivered in the clutch, ripping a two-run double into the right-field gap that not only erased Colorado’s lead but put the Cardinals ahead for good.

Despite the solid pitching, the Rockies offense could quite muster enough offense to get themselves a comfortable buffer and have now dropped eight straight games. They fall to 30-88 on the season.

They will look to rebound on Tuesday behind Kyle Freeland, going against Matthew Liberatore.