WP: Randy Wolf (9-8)
LP: Jake Westbrook (9-6)
HR: None
MVP: Randy Wolf (+.363)
LVP: Yuniesky Betancourt (-.061)
Tonight's game was all about Randy Wolf.
Randy Wolf was amazing tonight. In eight innings, he allowed a total of one run, five hits, and one walk. He only had one strikeout, but didn't need more than that. It was the 24th quality start in the last 30 games for the Brewers starters. He retired seventeen of his last nineteen batters. The most amazing part may have been that he only need 92 pitches to get through it tonight, and might have come back out for the ninth if the Brewers hadn't had a great chance in the ninth to expand the lead.
For the Brewers offense, it started quickly with the first three batters reaching base. They only managed one run on a Prince Fielder sacrifice fly, but had the lead early. The Cardinals came back in the bottom of the first and scored on an Albert Pujols sacrifice fly, but that was all their offense could manage for runs in the game. The Brewers scored two more runs in the top of the third with an RBI double for Prince Fielder and RBI single for Yuniesky Betancourt.
Jake Westbrook was very shaky early, but settled down after the first three innings. He also was out there for eight innings, but allowed three runs, six hits, and five walks.
The ninth inning made the game a little more interesting. After a Jerry Hairston, Jr. single, Josh Wilson reached base on a sac bunt and an error by pitcher Mark Rzepczynski. Tony La Russa came out to argue to call and was asked to leave the game early. Jonathan Lucroy would follow that with a sac bunt, and a Corey Hart RBI single scored two. Francisco Rodriguez came in to pitch the ninth and got the first two outs, but allowed two hits to put the tying run in the on-deck circle. However, he got a groundout from Yadier Molina to end the game.
With the win, the Brewers have won six straight overall, five straight on the road, and have extended their lead to five games in the NL Central. They will have a chance to sweep the St. Louis Cardinals with a win tomorrow night.