Monday’s Game Report: Brewers 4, Cardinals 3

By Rob Rains

The big five-game series against the division-leading Brewers did not get off to a good start for the Cardinals on Monday night.

Leading 3-0, the Cardinals’ bullpen sprung another leak in the seventh inning and the Brewers flipped the game with a four-run inning to claim the victory.

The first five batters in the inning reached base for the Brewers and four of them came around to score. An infield single started the rally. Justin Bruihl hurt his ankle on the play and had to leave the game.

A ground-rule double put runners on second and third and the Brewers loaded the bases when Ryan Fernandez could not handle a bunt for an error. David Hamilton’s two-run double cut the deficit to 3-2 and after Christian Yelich walked, Brice Turang put the Brewers in front with a two-run single.

Trailing by the run, the Cardinals got only one baserunner over the final three innings.

The loss left the Cardinals with a 1-5 record against the Brewers this season and in all five of the losses they have not scored more than three runs.

Here is how Monday night’s game broke down:

At the plate: The Cardinals took a 2-0 lead in the third with Nelson Velazquez driving in a run with a fielder’s choice grounder and Jose Fermin singling in the second run … In the sixth, Velazquez led off the inning with a double, moved to third on Fermin’s sacrifice bunt and scored on a single by Winn … Winn had the only hit after the sixth, a leadoff single in the ninth, but he was left stranded at first base.

On the mound: Dustin May turned in a solid bounce-back start after two rough outings but was pulled after 4 2/3 scoreless innings. He allowed four hits, two of them with two outs in the fifth. He struck out seven and did not walk a batter … Bruihl got out of the fifth and pitched around a leadoff single in the sixth before the bullpen troubles began in the seventh … Gordon Graceffo, recalled from Memphis before the game, worked the final two innings, allowing only one walk and striking out two.

Key stat: The Cardinals have not hit a home run in their six games against the Brewers this season, both in St. Louis and Milwaukee, in a combined 193 at-bats.

Worth noting: Graceffo was able to be recalled just three days after he was optioned because of an injury to reliever Max Rajcic. The extent of the injury to Rajcic’s elbow is not yet known as he undergoes further medical exams … The Cardinals likely will make another roster move to bring up a pitcher from Memphis on Tuesday.

Up next: The two teams will play a day-night doubleheader on Tuesday. Michael McGreevy will pitch in one of the two games, with the other starter to be determined. Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski is scheduled to start the 1:15 p.m. game.

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