DENVER -- There was no acknowledgement in the form of a helmet tip or spoken word in the second inning Thursday night. But after launching a two-run homer against the Cardinals, Brendan Rodgers jogged right past the past.

The offseason trade that sent third baseman Nolan Arenado to the Cardinals opened a spot for Rodgers, who for two seasons received just crumbs of playing time (when he wasn’t rehabbing shoulder injuries). Rodgers missed the first 44 games this year with a right hamstring strain and struggled to a .167 average through his first 11 games.

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But from June 5, when he hit his first career home run, through Thursday, Rodgers batted .338 (23-for-68) with five home runs, a .434 on-base percentage and a 1.057 OPS. The hot streak continued against the Cardinals on Thursday, as Rodgers was 2-for-4 performance that also included a two-out walk in the ninth inning that set up Elias Díaz’s three-run walk-off homer.

Rodgers is playing mostly second base, but shortstop -- where he has filled in for Trevor Story at times -- could be his if the Rockies deal Story by the July 30 Trade Deadline.

Rodgers is swinging with a freedom that was missing until the Rockies decided it was time for him to play.

“You see the confidence he has in the box,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “His heartbeat is in a much better place than it has been the previous two seasons. He's comfortable. He's confident. He feels as though he belongs.

“And when you get hits and you get homers and you turn double plays and you contribute to a win, it really helps you settle in. So let's just keep watching the young player develop in front of us.”

Timing challenge accepted
Ryan McMahon, who is playing more at third base with Rodgers manning second, said that facing Adam Wainwright was a challenge on Thursday. McMahon had gone 2-for-11 with four strikeouts in the previous series against the Pirates. He earlier missed two games in June because of right forearm soreness and didn’t play well in Milwaukee after he returned.

McMahon, who hit eight of his 16 home runs in April, can get into ruts with his timing. Given that, Wainwright, who lives by changing speeds, was not the best opponent.

However, McMahon went 1-for-3 with Wainwright on the mound. He also drew a walk from Giovanny Gallegos before Díaz blasted his winner. The work on timing continues.

“It’s just my contact point,” McMahon said. “I don’t have that great feel for, ‘Hey, this is where I’m going to hit the ball [along the swing path]. So my swing has been getting a little long because I don’t have a great feel for getting it off. It’s just grinding, things that happen throughout the season. You get tired, you create bad habits.”