Carlos Martinez dominated the Milwaukee Brewers in late August, and the St. Louis Cardinals could use another strong outing from the right-hander when they host their division rivals on Friday. He will be looking to help the Cardinals halt a two-game skid that has dropped them one-half game behind the New York Mets for the National League’s second wild-card spot.
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Guerra (8-3) did all right in his real line of work as well, allowing three runs on six hits over five innings while walking two and striking out two in his second start since returning from the disabled list.
The Brewers did end up doing the Cubs a significant favor, beating the Cardinals 12-5 in the series-opening game at Busch Stadium.
Before the night was done, the Brewers would have 17 hits, including the second four-hit game in three nights for Perez. Arcia also drove in two runs in the lopsided win.
Brewers catcher Martin Maldonado has been pleasantly surprised by Perez’s production in the clean-up spot.
Hernan Perez had four hits and three RBIs for the Brewers, who won their season-high fifth straight on the road and have won seven of their last eight games. “In the past, he always found a way to get out of the big inning”. He was brilliant in his last home start, limiting NY to one run and four hits over eight frames on August 24, but is just 5-6 with a 3.83 ERA in 13 turns at Busch Stadium.
“As he came out in the first I thought it was going to be one of those days where we were going to see some really good balls on the ground”, Matheny said.
Guerra singled after Maldonado’s home run and Counsell made a decision to replace him on the bases with reliever Michael Blazek, recovering from an elbow injury but told to stay ready to pinch-run. “You’ve got to get him with some balls up in the strike zone and we did a good job of it”. “I think (Garcia) was making more mistakes, more “middle” pitches”. It was his first career win against St. Louis in three tries. Milwaukee 3B Jonathan Villar’s two-homer game against the Chicago Cubs Wednesday night was the fourth in franchise history by a switch-hitter.
Garcia entered the game with an 11-5 career record against the Brewers. “He left some balls up and that’s how you’ve got to get him”. Martinez is 3-1 with a 1.20 ERA and 65 strikeouts in his career against the Brewers. The Brewers are 2-5 in Nelsons last 7 starts vs. Cardinals.
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Every Milwaukee starter delivered a hit except Ryan Braun, and he contributed to the offense with an RBI and a run scored.
