For the 6th time in 22-chances this season, John Axford entered the game with Brewers leading and he couldn’t hold on. Milwaukee fell to the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2 Monday night at Miller Park. Axford gave up all three runs with two-outs.
Axford started the inning by walking Matt Carpenter before getting Lance Berkman and Carlos Beltran to fly out. Rafeal Furcal then had an infield single followed by another Axford walk, this time to Skip Schumacker. Matt Holiday then connected on a 2-RBI single followed by an Allen Craig blooper for the game winner before Kameron Loe came in to get the final out. Axford called it his worse outing of the season…
AUDIO: John Axford on his performance :20The blown save wasted a great start by Michael Fiers. Fiers tossed seven scoreless innings allowing 4-hits and 4-walks while striking out 4-Cardinals. Brewers Manager Ron Roenicke couldn’t have asked for anything more from his starter…
AUDIO: Ron Roenicke on Michael Fiers start :11
Lance Lynn was solid in his start for the Cardinals. Lynn went 7-innings allowing just 1-run on 6-hits while fanning 10-Brewers. Jason Motte pitched the final 1 2/3 innings for St. Louis to earn the victory.
Offensively, Corey Hart connected on his 17th home run of the year in the 7th inning to break the scoreless tie. Ryan Braun added an RBI in the 8th, his 65th of the season. Braun is now tied with Carlos Beltran of the Cardinals for the NL lead in RBI.
The Brewers squandered a chance to pick up games in the National League Central. First place Cincinnati lost to Arizona 5-3 while Pittsburgh fell in Colorado 5-4. Milwaukee remains 8-games behind the Reds for 1st and 7-games behind the Pirates for 2nd in the NL Central.
Milwaukee and St. Louis lock up again tonight at Miller Park as Randy Wolf takes on Joe Kelly. First pitch is set for 7:10.