Now, let's keep the momentum going.
Tonight, the Brewers face Adam Wainwright. He's 4-2 with a 3.41 ERA in 2009, but the Brewers have already beaten him once, in a 1-0 shutout in the two teams' last series. All told, Wainwright has allowed just two earned runs in his last 16.2 innings (1.08 ERA), while striking out 14 and allowing just ten baserunners.
When the Brewers won that 1-0 game in the last series, the opposing pitcher was Jeff Suppan (3-3, 4.71), who returns to the mound tonight. Suppan allowed twelve baserunners but just three earned runs in five innings in his last start (against the Astros), but has still picked up a quality start in five of his last seven starts, for whatever that's worth. And, as mentioned previously, Suppan seems to save his best work for the Cardinals: he's 7-2 with a 2.92 ERA in 12 career outings against them.
J.J. Hardy was expected to return to the lineup today but will get at least one more day instead, so Craig Counsell will start for the sixth consecutive day. Bill Hall also gets a chance to parlay last night's walkoff hit into some sustained momentum:
Craig Counsell SS
Casey McGehee 2B
Ryan Braun LF
Prince Fielder 1B
Mike Cameron CF
Corey Hart RF
Bill Hall 3B
Jason Kendall C
Jeff Suppan RHP
(h/t Adam McCalvy)
Considering the Brewers played an extra inning game yesterday and have played on ten consecutive days (14 counting a game in St. Louis that was postponed in the second inning), the bullpen is in really good shape:
Carlos Villanueva pitched one inning yesterday, and has pitched in two straight games.
Trevor Hoffman pitched one inning yesterday.
Mark DiFelice has not pitched since Sunday.
Mitch Stetter has not pitched since Sunday.
Jorge Julio has not pitched since Saturday.
Seth McClung has not pitched since Friday.
Todd Coffey has not pitched since Thursday.
Tuesday's Game Thread is now open.