Cards head home after productive road trip

PHOENIX — The Cardinals were already perturbed by the late start time scheduled for their getaway day in Arizona, with manager Mike Matheny going as far as calling it “ridiculous.” His club’s travel plans were unexpectedly aided by the fact that it played its quickest game of the season, though even that did little to placate any frustration.

That’s because the brisk affair at Chase Field on Thursday was made possible by an offense that got almost nothing going against Rubby De La Rosa. Matheny described the D-backs right-hander as “as good as I’ve ever seen him” after watching his club be held to three hits in a 3-0 loss that ended its seven-game road trip.

“His fastball, I felt it played harder than it has in the past,” noted Matt Adams, who drew one of the two walks De La Rosa issued. “He kept us off balance, and made pitches when he needed to. He was just locating.”

The Cardinals were especially surprised to see radar gun readings of 96 and 97 mph for De La Rosa, who had an average velocity of 94.7 mph on that pitch in …

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