Brew Crew tie series with St. Louis

Milwaukee, W.I. ~ The Milwaukee Brewers and the St. Louis Cardinals played a short 2 game series Tuesday and Wednesday and resulted in a tie. The Cardinals took the first game 10-2, taking advantage of another horrific start by Matt Garza. But on Wednesday Milwaukee defeated the Cards 6-5 and won on a game saving catch by Brewers centerfielder Keon Broxton, who robbed a homerun from Randall Grichuk.

Watch this video on Broxton’s game saving catch

The Brewers fell to the Cardinals on Tuesday 10-2, greatly because of yet another awful start by Matt Garza. How is it that the Brew Crew can limit the Los Angeles Dodgers, the best team in baseball and possibly the best in history, to 5 runs in three days but allow the scuffling St. Louis Cardinals to 10 runs in one game on Tuesday ? Well I have an answer. Garza was on the mound for Milwaukee on Tuesday, allowing six runs in 3.1 innings. Last weekend in Los Angeles, the Brewers put Chase Andersen, Zach Davies, and Jimmy Nelson and allowed a combined 5 runs in 18.2 innings against the mighty Dodgers offense. That goes to show you that the Brewers simply cannot have Garza on the mound when you are fighting for a playoff spot in September.

Matt Garza exits the game after just 3.1 innings

Garza actually pitched two nice innings to start the game before a three run 3rd inning for the Red Birds. He loaded the bases with a single, an error, and a walk. Garza tried to get out of the inning but his defense let up. He got two double play balls but only got one out on each allowing the Cardinals to score 3 times. In the bottom half of the inning Eric Thames went deep to make the score 3-1. But the Cardinals got more damage done in the fourth inning. Garza allowed a lead off double from Carson Kelly to start off the inning. Pitcher Luke Weaver then bunted to move Kelly to third base. The next two batters, Matt Carpenter and Tommy Pham both walked off of Garza, loading the bases. Next up came Paul DeJong, who singled sharply into centerfield, scoring Kelly and Carpenter. That was the end of Garza’s evening. Carlos Torres came in to relieve and got some help from Manny Pina when he caught DeJong stealing second. Torres walked two batters and then allowed a two run single to Luke Voit. 7-1 Cardinals.

In the fifth St. Louis didn’t stop. After giving up a hit to the pitcher, Torres gave up a two-run shot off Carpenter’s bat and the Cardinals then led by 9.

The Brewers did get another run on the board but the damage was done. St. Louis won 10-2.

The Brew Crew scored three more runs in the sixth inning, all on homeruns. Santana led off with his 22nd homer of the year. Stephen Vogt then followed and reached on an error by third basemen Matt Carpenter. Jonathan Villar was up next and blasted one into right field for his 10th of the year.

Jonathan Villar hits his 10th homerun of the season Wednesday afternoon st Miller Park

Clinging to a 6-5 lead in the 9th, Corey Knebel came on for the Brew Crew. Brewer killer Yadier Molina led off the frame with a ground ball base hit through the hole and St. Louis had a lead off base runner. Knebel then got his 105th and 106th strikeouts of the season. Randall Grichuk then came up to the plate with two outs. Grichuk hit a deep fly ball to center and deep and just kept carrying. Center fielder Keon Broxton slowly drifted back to the wall before leaping and robbing a homerun to end the game .  Broxton went crazy pumping his arms up and down and the Brewers won !

Keon Broxton gets the water cooler dumped on hiafter robbing a homerun game.

Milwaukee is 3.5 games in back of the Cubs in the N.L. Central and 3 games in back of the N.L. Wildcard.

By Jacob Szczap