ST. LOUIS — Brendan Donovan had every intention of returning to the St. Louis Cardinals’ lineup Monday. The team’s lone All-Star had missed two games with nagging groin discomfort but was hopeful he’d be available — even for one at-bat — in Monday’s series opener against the Colorado Rockies. He sure picked the right time.

Absent for two days to recover from a groin injury that traces back to his toe injury and compromised his swing, All-Star's pinch-hit double downs Rockies, 3-2.

Despite not starting Monday’s series opener against the Colorado Rockies, Donovan came off the bench in the bottom of the eighth inning and delivered a clutch two-run double that gave St. Louis the lead, ultimately leading to a 3–2 win.