MLB Playoffs: Cardinals Push Brewers to Brink of Elimination
By Editorial Staff
The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Milwaukee Brewers in convincing fashion Friday night, taking a 7-1 victory and pushing the Brewers to the brink of elimination. Matt Holliday paced the Cardinals offense while St. Louis’s pen once again delivered, holding Milwaukee scoreless over the game’s final 4 1/3 innings.
Brewers starter Zack Greinke wasn’t at his best Friday night, but his defense didn’t do him any favors either. Greinke finished the night after logging 5 2/3 innings over which he allowed five runs on seven hits. Only two of those runs were earned, as the Brewers committed three errors behind Greinke.
St. Louis jumped out to an early lead, scoring three runs in the 2nd. Yadier Molina drove in the Cardinals first run on his RBI double. After Greinke recorded the second out of the inning, a throwing error by third baseman Jerry Hairston Jr. cost the Brewers an additional two runs.
The Cardinals scored again in the 4th before Milwaukee was able to get on the board. Corey Hart, the lone bright spot for the Brewers offensively, drove in Milwaukee’s first and only run of the night with his RBI single to center.
Greinke was chased from the game in the 6th following another unearned run, and the Cardinals finished their scoring in the 8th inning when Holliday drove in a pair with his double to left.
Holliday and Molina combined to go 6-9 last night, accounting for four of the Cardinals seven runs. With his single, Albert Pujols has now hit in each of the five NLCS contests. During the postseason, Pujols is batting .410/.477/.667 with seven doubles and eight RBI’s.
Holliday seems to be finding his swing as well. After collecting only five hits over his first 19 postseason at bats, Holliday is now 5-8 with three extra base hits and three RBI’s in his last two games.
Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia allowed seven hits over his 4 2/3 innings of work, but only one went for extra bases. Garcia didn’t allow a free pass while striking out five and was able to hold the Brewers to a single run.
As he’s been doing this postseason, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa went to his pen early, pulling Garcia after only 68 pitches. La Russa’s plan worked again, as four St. Louis relievers combined to throw 4 1/3 scoreless frames. Jason Motte got the final four outs for the Cardinals, notching his second save of the series. Motte has been nearly flawless this postseason, allowing only one hit over his seven innings of work.
The clubs have off Saturday, as they travel back to Milwaukee for game six. The Brewers are sticking with struggling starter Shaun Marcum and his 11.25 postseason ERA, hoping the right-hander can extend their season. St. Louis will hand the ball to Edwin Jackson, who will look to send the Cardinals to their first World Series appearance since 2006.
For more on the Brewers and Cardinals, be sure to check out Reviewing the Brew and Redbird Rants.