Brewers late rally falls short, swept by Cardinals with 5-2 loss

The St. Louis Cardinals came into today’s action looking to sweep the Milwaukee Brewers. Brewers’ nemesis and former ace, Adam Wainwright got the start for the Cardinals. The Brewers countered with Jhoulys Chacin.

The first inning got off to a very positive start for the Brewers and Eric Thames, who launched his fifth dinger of the year on a pitch up and over the plate. The Brewers took the early lead 1-0, but that would be the end of the scoring off Wainwright.

After three hitless innings, the second time through the Cardinals lineup proved problematic for Chacin in the bottom of the fourth. Paul Goldschmidt and Paul DeJong opened the inning with singles, and Marcell Ozuna brought them all in with a 3-run shot.

Later in the inning, Yadier Molina added on with a solo shot. At the end of four, the score was 4-1 Cardinals.

After Chacin was only able to pitch four innings, Jacob Barnes and Jeremy Jeffress pitched scoreless fifth and sixth innings, respectively. Jake Petricka could not do the same in the seventh.

He walked Carpenter to open the inning and Goldschmidt followed with a double, making it second and third with no one out. Petricka did mitigate the damage as only one run scored when Carpenter came in on a fielder’s choice by Jose Martinez, but the Cardinals led 5-1 after seven innings. Petricka came back out for the eighth, and was able to hold the Cardinals off the board.

The Brewers did mount a threat in the top of the ninth. Eric Thames singled off Cardinals’ left hander Andrew Miller, and Yasmani Grandal followed with a walk to make it first and second with just one out. Travis Shaw struck out, but Manny Pina was hit by a pitch to load the bases and bring the tying run to the plate.

Ben Gamel did not tie the game, but he did walk, allowing Thames to score. The Cardinals replaced Miller with Jordan Hicks to try to finish. Christian Yelich came to the plate as a pinch-hitter, representing the go-ahead run. Unfortunately for the Brewers, Hicks won this battle, striking out the MVP and ending the game.

The Brewers skid continues as they are now 13-13. Next up is a series with the New York Mets beginning Friday in Flushing. Let’s hope the Thursday off day gives the Brew Crew the chance to reset.

Start time on Friday will be 6:10 CT, and the game can be heard on WTMJ and watched on Fox Sports Wisconsin.