Cardinals take it late as Brewers fall 4-3

The Brewers and Cardinals matched up AGAIN for the second of three at Busch Stadium and the results were disappointing. Zach Davies pitches relatively well for the Brewers; but could not go deep in the game. He gave up two runs over 4.2 innings. Daniel Ponce de Leon took the mound for the first time this season for St. Louis. He pitched well too, and got an assist early.

In the top of the first Christian Yelich walked. Ryan Braun later blooped a single just below Jose Martinez’ glove. That resulted in runners on the corners. Oh, no, I’m sorry. Ed Sedar was over aggressive and sends another runner around third to be thrown out easily at the plate. A chance to put pressure on the Cardinals’ pitcher and a potential scoring opportunity were lost as a result.

St. Louis plated the first run of the game in the bottom of the second inning. Marcell Ozuna led off the inning with a single. Jose Martinez followed with another single. Yadier Molina followed that with a single and was thrown out at second when he tried to advance. Davies was able to pitch out of further damage to keep the score 1-0 after two innings of play.

Ponce de Leon kept the Brewers off the board until the fifth. Orlando Arcia crushed a solo shot to centerfield. That tied the score 1-1. In the bottom half of the inning, Davies walked Carpenter who went on to steal second base. Paul Goldschmidt knocked him in with a single to left to retake the lead. Paul DeJong doubled later off Davies’ replacement, Matt Albers, in the inning to put runners at second and third. The Cardinals failed to capitalize, keeping the score 2-1 after five. In the top of the sixth, Travis Shaw crushed a solo shot over the right field wall to tie the game once again, 2-2.

The scores remained tied until the bottom of the eighth. Alex Wilson threw a breaking pitch that stayed up just a little too much to Paul DeJong. The Cardinals shortstop barreled the pitch and drove it over the right centerfield wall. Later Wilson walked Jose Martinez. Yadier Molina then ripped a 0-2 pitch down the left field line to score Martinez. Then Molina stole third to add insult to injury with just one out. Luckily, he failed to tag up on a deep fly ball by Dexter Fowler and was stranded there to end the inning. The damage was done, however, as the Cardinals held the lead, 4-2 going into the ninth.

In the top of the ninth, Travis Shaw took Jordan Hicks deep for his second home run of the night. Eric Thames followed with a walk. Just as things looked to have promise, Orlando Arica was sawed off and lined softly to DeJong. Thames was caught off first and doubled up to end the game, 4-3.

The Brewers look to avoid the sweep tomorrow afternoon. First pitch will be at 12:15 CT. Jhoulys Chacin will face off against Adam Wainwright.