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.

Brendan Donovan hit a go-ahead two-run double in the eighth inning, Miles Mikolas didn't give up a hit through 5 1/3 innings, and the St. Louis Cardinals sent the Colorado Rockies to their eighth straight loss,