CARDINALS

fastball allowed one run and struck out three.

At 21 years, 212 days, Marquez was the second-youngest Rockies pitcher to earn his first win, the team announced. The youngest was Jamey Wright (21, 206).

“He set the tone and pitched a good game,” Arenado said.

The third baseman did his part, too. Arenado broke open the game in the second with his NL-leading 39th homer of the season. His fourth career slam made it 6-1.

The pitch by Cardinals starter Luke Weaver simply caught too much of the plate.

“Stayed straight,” Weaver said. “For it to flatten out at such a big moment right there is disappointing.”

Weaver (1-4) was roughed up by the Rockies, surrendering seven hits and six runs in two innings. Before this game, the right-hander had allowed 12 earned runs in his last seven starts combined.

The Cardinals, who had won four in a row, began the day tied with New York and San Francisco atop the NL wild-card standings. The Mets lost to the Atlanta Braves 4-3 to remain tied, and the Giants played late.

Marquez allowed his only run in the second, when Jeremy Hazelbaker led off with a double and later scored on Kolten Wong’s sacrifice fly.

The Cardinals took two of three from Colorado during a series in which their starting pitchers were brilliant at the plate. Carlos Martinez, Adam Wainwright and Weaver went a combined 4 for 4 with two doubles and six RBIs. Weaver had a single in his only plate appearance.

D.J. LeMahieu got two hits and drove in two runs to raise his average to .351 for Colorado. He holds a slight lead over Washington’s Daniel Murphy in the NL batting race.

After a day off today, the Cardinals will start right-hander Mike Leake (9-10, 4.54 ERA) when they open a three-game series Friday in Chicago. Right-hander Jake Arrieta (17-7, 2.96) will start for the Cubs. St. Louis outfielder Matt Holliday (broken right thumb) said he is hoping to take batting practice Friday at Wrigley Field.