Sunday’s Game Report: Brewers 7, Cardinals 1
By Rob Rains
The Cardinals found themselves trailing the Brewers four batters into Sunday’s game, and the day did not get any better from there.
Erick Fedde gave up two more runs in the opening inning and the Brewers bunched four consecutive hits off the Cardinals starter in a four-run fourth that blew the game open.
The loss kept the Cardinals from completing a sweep of the three-game series at Busch Stadium. It was only the second time this season they lost by a margin of more than four runs.
Here is how Sunday’s game broke down:
At the plate: Lars Nootbaar reached base three times with two hits and a walk and scored the Cardinals’ only run on a double by Brendan Donovan in the fifth, their only extra-base hit in the game … Willson Contreras also reached base three times on two walks and a single … The Cardinals were hitless in 11 at-bats with runners in scoring position and left 11 runners on base. Nolan Arenado was 0-of-4, each time leaving a runner in scoring position.
On the mound: Fedde walked two of the first three hitters in the game before three consecutive hits put the Brewers in front. Pitching with a thin bullpen behind him, Fedde lasted into the sixth inning despite allowing a season-high seven runs … JoJo Romero finished the sixth, stranding a runner on second, before walking the leadoff hitter in the seventh … Matt Svanson retired all five hitters he faced before John King worked around a leadoff single in the ninth.
Key stat: The Cardinals surpassed the 100 at-bat mark for their combined designated hitters on Sunday and are still looking for their first home run from the position. The only other team without a home run from a DH this season is the Colorado Rockies. The Cardinals have a combined two RBIs out of the DH spot, the fewest in the majors.
Worth noting: The Brewers came into the series with 36 stolen bases in 27 games, the second most in the majors. They added only one to their total in the three games, by Christian Yelich on Sunday. Pedro Pages was behind the plate for the entire series for the Cardinals … If he continues to make progress during his workouts over the next several days, Ivan Herrera likely will begin a rehab assignment in the minors by the end of the week … Michael Siani was 2-of-17 in his first four games since being optioned to Memphis … Top prospect JJ Wetherholt returned to the Springfield lineup on Sunday after missing the last week because of the flu.
Up next: The Cardinals head back on the road on Monday for the first of four games against the Reds in Cincinnati. Andre Pallante is the scheduled starter. The Cardinals have gone 2-11 away from Busch Stadium so far this season.
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