W: Jaime Garcia (1-0)
L: Yovani Gallardo (0-2)
STL HR: Yadier Molina (2), Colby Rasmus (2)
MIL HR: None
That’s a pretty ugly win expectancy graph, isn’t it?
One day after suffering a heart-breaking loss in the 9th inning, the Brewers looked sluggish from the start in front of a national audience on FOX.
Yovani Gallardo struggled in his first start since his 5-year, $30.1 million extension, giving up 6 runs on 5 hits in 5 innings of work. Most of those runs came in the second inning, which was highlighted by a 3-run Yadier Molina home run. Claudio Vargas didn’t inspire much confidence for a comeback when he surrendered a home run to Colby Rasmus on his first pitch of the season.
Jaime Garcia was solid in his season debut and first start since 2008, throwing 6 innings of 4-hit ball, and only allowing one run (a Corey Hart RBI single). Mitchell Boggs and Jason Motte combined for 3 no-hit innings of relief.
If there was a bright side for the Brewers, it was that the bullpen again did a good job of keeping things from getting (even further) out of hand. After giving up the home run to Rasmus, Vargas got through the inning without allowing another hit, Carlos Villanueva put together another impressive inning (striking out two and not allowing a hit), and Manny Parra closed the game out with 2 scoreless innings.
The main thing we can take away from this game? The Cardinals are definitely really freaking good. The Brewers now have to go into Sunday’s series finale looking to avoid a sweep against Chris Carpenter, who has dominated the Brewers lately. His last appearance in Miller Park? A one-hit shutout in early September, in which he struck out 10 Brewers.
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