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This game was supposed to be exciting, fun, and a glimpse toward the future. Earlier today the Milwaukee Brewers announced that Brandon Woodruff, last season’s minor league pitcher of the year, was getting called up to make his big league debut in game 1 of today’s doubleheader with the Cardinals. Then, he walked off the mound while making his warm up tosses and was scratched with a tight hamstring.
Brent Suter started the game instead on about as short of notice as could be, having been recalled to be the 26th man for today’s action. He actually pitched pretty well early on, holding the Cardinals scoreless through the first 4 innings. He even got his first MLB hit with one out in the 5th inning. Milwaukee would go on to load the bases in the top of the 5th with only one out recorded. Hernan Perez and Travis Shaw both failed to score any of the runners, however, leaving three men stranded.
The tides quickly turned after that. Suter, perhaps a bit gassed from spending so much time on the base paths the previous inning in today’s 90+ degree heat, allowed a one-out home run to Jose Martinez to give St. Louis the lead. He would get another out before Chad Huffman hit a triple (that was aided by some pretty terrible outfield play by fan-favorite Nick Franklin), Matt Carpenter hit an RBI ground-rule double, and Dexter Fowler recorded an RBI single to make it 3-0. Suter would get pulled after that, lasting 4.2 innings while allowing three runs. Jared Hughes replaced him, and got a ground out from Tommy Pham to end the inning.
Wily Peralta came on in the 6th and allowed two runs in two innings pitched, raising his ERA to 6.66 on the season. That’s now six straight relief outings that he’s been scored upon. Neftali Feliz did what he does best in the 7th, coughing up a solo home run to Jose Martinez (his 2nd homer of the game) to give the Cardinals a 6-0 lead. Feliz’s ERA now stands at 6.00 this year.
Milwaukee’s offense made Cardinals’ starter Lance Lynn work hard, but he pitched 5.0 scoreless innings before giving way to the bullpen. The Brewers would manage only three singles in 4.0 innings off of relievers John Brebbia and Tyler Lyons, allowing the Cardinals to complete a 6-0 shutout victory.
The loss puts the Milwaukee Nine just a game over .500 at 33-32, while the Cardinals improve to 30-32. The two teams will face off again tonight at 7:15 PM CST, with Jimmy Nelson set to face off against Marco Gonzalez in game 2 of the doubleheader.