Overbay Traded to Toronto!
Cardinals capitalize on mistakes
Brewers 0-4 against Cards
Dennis Jenders
Doug Davis had another tough game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Many of his pitches were high in the zone and his 5 walks contributed to the second loss to St. Louis in his last three starts. Overall the Brewers committed 8 walks and had two hit batsman.
Albert Pujols ripped a shot to thirdbase that took a bad hop on Russell Branyan, allowing David Eckstein and Larry Walker to score.
The first-inning was rough on first baseman Lyle Overbay as he was knocked out of the game after running into the clear plexiglass barrier as he fell over the tarpaulin in foul terriority - he did make the catch for an out as Pujols advanced for a base.
The Brewers looked poised for a comeback in the top-half of the second inning when J.J. Hardy hit a rope into center field to score Jeff Cirillo and Junior Spivey. Hardy has continued to hit the ball well and as he continues to find the gaps his production will only get better.
With rain threatening the game the Cards scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Albert Pujols ripped a shot to centerfield allowing Jeff Suppan and Larry Walker to score - both were issued a walk by Davis in the first.
The Brewers threatened again in the top of the fifth-inning with the rain pounding the field. Damian Miller singled to left and Geoff Jenkins reached on a Pujols error. Then Carlos Lee came to the plate representing the winning run, but struck out swinging. With the rain coming down so hard it looked like that may be the last chance for the Brewers.
But they could never capture the lead with the full nine innings. They gained one more run on the Cardinals in the seventh with Jenkins doubled to center scoring Wes Obermueller. But the Cardinals got it right back in the bottom half of the inning when Abraham Nunez had a two-out single to right allowing So Taguchi to score.
The Cardinals suffered a tough loss when closer Jason Isringhausen, who has seven saves in seven chances, entered in the ninth but left after facing two batters. He will likely be placed on the 15-day DL with what appears to be a strain.
NOTES: Ben Sheets threw from flat ground for about 10 minutes before the game. Pitching coach Mike Maddux acted as the catcher, but actually threw the ball to Bill Castro because Sheets was uncomfortable catching. It is still uncertain if Sheets will start on Saturday - but his dizziness and nausea would need to subside completely before the Brewers take a chance starting him again.