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Win: Wily Peralta (10-6)
Loss: Carlos Martinez (2-4)
HR: Khris Davis (15)
The Cardinals time sharing the NL Central lead was, graciously, short-lived. After they tied the Brewers by winning the first two games of the series, Milwaukee roared back with an offensive tour de force. The Crew finished up with 19 hits and three walks, handing young St. Louis starter Carlos Martinez his worst outing in the majors.
Elian Herrera led the team by going 5-5 on the day, with four singles and a double. He scored three runs. Carlos Gomez and Scooter Gennett, meanwhile, had things taken care of at the top of the order: Both picked up three hits (including a double and walk apiece) while Gomez scored three times and drove in two and Herrera scored twice while also driving in a pair. Aramis Ramirez had three hits, as well, while Ryan Braun picked up a couple RBIs with a two-hit performance.
Milwaukee picked up two quick runs early in the game, but it wasn't until after the Cardinals scored in the fourth that things really picked up. The Brewers followed with two more runs in the fourth, one in the fifth, three in the sixth, one in the seventh, and finally two more in the eighth. With an 11-1 lead, the Brewers called on All Star Francisco Rodriguez, who gave up a run in the ninth.
Of course, don't think it was just the hitting that was great today. Wily Peralta was absolutely outstanding on the mound for Milwaukee: He pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, striking out five and walking done. He was also pulled very early -- Peralta had thrown just 80 pitches at the time of his removal.
The Brewers are now one game up in the NL Central once again and, boy, does it feel good. They'll stay that way until at least July 18. For now, the team gets to enjoy the All Star Break knowing they are in first place.
