Cardinals starter Lynn stifles Rockies

ST. LOUIS -- Rookie right-hander Lance Lynn tossed six shutout innings and Matt Holliday and Carlos Beltran drove in a pair of runs apiece to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 6-2 win over the Colorado Rockies on Thursday.

St. Louis has won four of its last five and 11 of 14 against Colorado. The Rockies have lost four of five. Colorado has scored 13 runs in its last six games.

Lynn (11-4) bounced back with a strong effort following three successive poor outings. The All-Star surrendered four hits and struck out seven to win for the first time since June 13.

Lynn, who got off to a 10-2 start this season, was 0-2 with a 9.98 ERA in his three previous starts.

He returned to his aggressive early season form Thursday by retiring 10 successive batters from the second to fifth innings. Lynn walked two of the first three batters but did not issue a walk the rest of the way.

Holliday went 1 for 4 with a run-scoring ground out in the first and a bases-loaded single in the fifth off Colorado starter Christian Friedrich (4-6), who gave up six earned runs over 4 1/3 innings. Friedrich pitched at Eastern Kentucky before being selected in the first round by the Rockies in the 2008 draft.

Holliday is 34 for 68 with four homers and 21 RBI in his last 18 games.

St. Louis scored five runs in the fifth inning to take a 6-0 lead. Jon Jay drew a bases-loaded walk and Holliday followed with a single to push the lead to 3-0. Beltran added a two-run bases-loaded double off the base of the center-field wall. Holliday came in to score the final run of the inning by sliding under the tag of catcher Wilin Rosario on a grounder by Allen Craig.

Tyler Colvin hit a two-run homer in the eighth off reliever Victor Marte to bring the Rockies to within 6-2. Colvin, who the Rockies acquired in a trade with the Cubs during the offseason, had three homers in the four-game series.

St. Louis closer Jason Motte came on with two on and two out in the ninth and retired Carlos Gonzalez on a grounder for his 19th save in 23 opportunities.

Gonzalez had a 12-game hitting streak snapped with an 0-for-4 performance.

St. Louis reliever Barret Browning pitched a perfect seventh inning and has set down all 12 batters he has faced in three outings this season.

The Rockies celebrated their 21st birthday Thursday.

The National League awarded one of two expansion franchises to Denver on July 5, 1991. Miami was given the other franchise.