June 20 - 22 Cardinals @ Brewers recap

Game 1 Brewers 2 – Cardinals 0

Cardinals 0, Brewers 2 (Final Score) on MLB Gameday

Burnes Shines, Taylor Goes Deep

When Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes is on, he’s really on. Burnes dominated the Cardinals lineup with pinpoint accuracy hitting the black with his backdoor cutter with regularity and keeping the Cards’ hitters off balance by mixing in his slider and curve. He induced 20 swings and misses on his way to a seven inning start posting 10 strikeouts against only two hits and two walks.

On offense, the Brewers got all they needed in the form of a Tyrone Taylor two run home run in the bottom of the fifth. Cards starter Miles Mikolas, who lost a no-hitter in the ninth in his last start, kept the Brewers in check until the Taylor dinger.

Burnes was replaced in the eighth by setup man Devin Williams who recorded his 16^th hold with no drama. Josh Hader returned from daddy duty in the ninth. A leadoff infield hit to Brendan Donovan, originally called an out but reversed on review, was nullified when Donovan was called out trying to take second on a ball in the dirt. He was called safe on the play but review again reversed the call this time in the Brewers favor. Review taketh away and review giveth. Hader finished off the inning with no further issues giving the Brewers game one of the series.

Game 2 Brewers 2 – Cardinals 6

Cardinals 6, Brewers 2 (Final Score) on MLB Gameday

Gorman Goes Deep Twice (No, Not That Gorman)

Welcome to Milwaukee, Chi Chi.

Making a spot start for Milwaukee, recently acquired pitcher Chi Chi Gonzalez gave the Crew what they needed – four innings and 73 pitches. After a dicey first inning giving up two runs, Gonzalez gave up a walk and a home run to Cardinals rookie Nolan Gorman the rest of the way. He exited allowed three earned runs and a walk to go along with two strikeouts. Depending on Andy Ashby’s availability, Gonzalez may be asked to step in again.

After falling behind by two in the first, Willy Adames tied things up with a two run jack in the bottom of the inning. It was home run number 14 for Adames who seems to be rounding into form after a three-week injury hiatus.

Unfortunately for Milwaukee, that was all the offense they could muster despite multiple chances. Cards’ starter Jack Flaherty struggled with command against an arguably tight zone by home plate umpire Roberto Ortiz walking five batters in only three innings but the Brewers were unable to put anything across going 0 – 7 with runners in scoring position.

Gorman hit is second home run of the day in the seventh finishing the game 4 for 4 with two home runs and four RBI. The rookie looks like he will be a thorn in the side of Brewer fans for quite some time.

The Brewers made some good contact against Giovanny Gallegos in the seventh with wall scrapers from Adames and Victor Caratini but couldn’t put anything across. Goose eggs in the eighth and ninth ended things for the Crew and knotted the series up at a game apiece.

Game 3 Brewers 4 – Cardinals 5

Cardinals 5, Brewers 4 (Final Score) on MLB Gameday

Long Balls Are Lauer’s Lament

For the second game in a row, the Brewers gave up early runs to the Cards. MVP candidate Paul Goldschmidt cranked a two run homer off starter Eric Lauer in the top of the first.

Rowdy Tellez got the comeback started against Adam Wainwright in the bottom of the inning with his first home run since May 29^th.

After going down another run in the fourth, Andrew McCutchen hit a solo home run to pull the Brewers within one. Andrew McCutchen was 23-for-73 with three homers lifetime against Adam Wainwright going into the at bat.

In the bottom of the fifth, Christian Yelich doubled home Tyrone Taylor on a 3 – 2 count. He had a bit of luck as left fielder, Juan Yepez, misplayed the ball pretty badly. McCutchen continued to pummel Wainwright by driving in Yelich with a double of his own giving the Brewers a one run lead and sending Wainwright to the showers. The Brewers were 0-for-17 with runners in scoring position in this series before McCutchen’s run scoring hit. McCutchen has been solid at the plate in June slashing 319/413/449 for the month.

The lead did not last long, however, as Nolan Arenado took Lauer deep in the top of the sixth for a two-run blast. Home runs are becoming a problem for Eric Lauer. He gave up three home runs at Washington on June 11^th, three home runs against Cincinnati on June 17^th, and gave up two against the Cardinals in his latest start. For the mathematically challenged, that’s eight homers in three consecutive starts. Not ideal for a guy that was arguably among the best in baseball the first two months of the season.

The Brewers had a chance with two on and two out in the ninth but Christian Yelich grounded out weakly to second to end the game giving the Cardinals a one game lead in the series and the division.

Game 4 Brewers 6 – Cardinals 4

Cardinals 4, Brewers 6 (Final Score) on MLB Gameday | MLB.com

Splitsville

For the third game in a row, the Cardinals scored early plating two against Brewers starter Jason Alexander. Brewer killer Paul Goldschmidt slapped a double that scored Nolan Gorman and then advanced all the way to home on a Willy Adames throwing error.

The Brewers were able to get one back in the bottom of the inning. Christian Yelich doubled, advanced to third on a Willy Adames fly ball, then scored on a Rowdy Tellez grounder. The Brewers remained down a run until the bottom of the fourth. After Andrew McCutchen was thrown out at home on a Victor Caratini single, Tyrone Taylor hit a fly ball that carried and carried eventually dropping over the wall for a three-run homer much to the surprise of Juan Yepez. It’s very possible Yepez was fooled by the shadows surrounding home plate at the time, but it wasn’t his first adventure in left field (see Game 1 recap).

The Cardinals cut the two run lead in half in the top of the fifth on a solo homer by Lars “Chocolate Covered” Nootbar. But the Brewers returned the favor with another Adames home run in the bottom of the inning.

Willy appeared to aggravate his tender ankle on an at bat later in the game, but came back in the field afterwards so hopefully it’s nothing serious.

After giving up a run in the sixth, Alexander hit the showers and was replaced by Brad Boxberger. Boxberger was fantastic working parts of two innings to preserve the one-run lead. He's allowed two earned runs over his last 12 games. Devin Williams continued his recent run of dominance by getting through the eighth unscathed. Williams has not had an earned run since May 10^th. Since then he’s gone 17 innings with 26 strikeouts and three walks. consecutive outs. After an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth, Josh Hader came on looking for the save. He had his slider working striking out Dylan Carlson looking and Harrison Bader swinging. Future hall of famer Albert Pujols lined out to right to end the game and give Hader the save.

Up Next

Vladimir Guerrero Jr and the Toronto Blue Jays come south of the border for a three-game weekend series at Miller Park.