DENVER (AP) — Carlos Martinez pitched efficiently into the seventh inning for a fifth straight start and Randal Grichuk hit a solo homer, helping the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Colorado Rockies 4-2 on Wednesday to avoid a series sweep.

Martinez (7-2) had a shutout until Ben Paulsen’s two-run homer in the seventh. He gave up eight hits in 6 1-3 innings and tied a career-high with two singles at the plate. Martinez also scored a run to help the Cardinals salvage the final game of what’s been a rough series.

St. Louis was outscored 15-6 in the opening two games and had slugger Matt Holliday go on the disabled list with a strained right quadriceps. Chad Bettis (2-1) allowed three runs in five innings as the Rockies finished a 5-5 homestand.