The Brewers’ rotation continues to build momentum as Freddy Peralta put together another excellent performance.
In the team’s 3-2 win, Peralta went six strong innings, allowing just one run on four hits while racking up six strikeouts. His early innings were efficient, yet despite lengthy counts in the final half of his outing, he limited the Cardinals to that one run. His slider was dangerous, generating four whiffs on seven swings from St. Louis hitters. While his changeup didn’t get as many swing-and-misses, the Cardinals almost exclusively made weak contact against the offspeed pitch.
In the fifth inning, he allowed back-to-back doubles to the first two batters, both hits coming on fastballs. His first was on the edge of the zone to Alec Burleson, but the second was a heater right over the middle to Nolan Arenado in a 3-1 count. He also allowed a walk in this inning, but with a fly out and a pair of strikeouts, Peralta escaped with minimal damage.
The steady performance opened the door for the Brewers’ offense to breakthrough against Erick Fedde who likewise pitched a solid game, but not dominant enough to match Peralta. Both teams were on the wrong side of a few ball/strike calls, but it wasn’t a decisive disadvantage either way in the end.
In the fourth inning, the Brewers’ breakthrough started with a dangerous play when Sal Frelick hit a liner up the middle off Fedde’s hand. Fedde dropped to the ground as Frelick safely got on base. Fortunately, Fedde was able to remain in the game, but it took a long mound visit to ensure he was okay.
William Contreras provided the team’s first RBI of the night when Fedde left a sweeper in the zone. The catcher pulled the ball down the line, and as the ball dribbled into the corner, it gave Frelick enough time to score all the way from first. It gave the Brewers the 1-0 lead before Arenado’s double would equalize in the following inning.
Frelick was once again the catalyst for the offensive rally in the sixth inning. He snuck a base hit through the right side of the infield and proceeded to steal second base. Chourio added to Milwaukee’s baserunning prowess when he pushed a single into a double. It was a close play that the Cardinals challenged, but ultimately he was ruled safe as the Brewers put two runners in scoring position. Contreras provided the sacrifice fly to give Milwaukee their first lead of the game.
Steven Matz then entered in relief of Fedde. With Chourio on third base, the Cardinals moved to an infield-in defense as the infielders crowded the grass. Christian Yelich chopped a groundball to second with Nolan Gorman attempting to throw Chourio out at home, but the young star had a great jump to slide in ahead of the tag. It gave the Brewers a 3-1 lead and St. Louis had already lost its challenge.
With a small lead in hand, it was up to the bullpen to close out the deal. Peralta’s performance had set the tone, and the relief corps made good on his start. Jared Koenig came through with two strikeouts and a fly out in the shallow outfield with Frelick covering a good distance to make the play.
Abner Uribe pitched a scoreless eighth inning with only a small hiccup as he walked Willson Contreras and threw a wild pitch to give up a free base. But Uribe retired the third out to end the threat. Uribe has been on a tear lately, pitching to a 1.52 ERA over his last 29 2⁄3 innings while striking out 40 batters in that span.
The team’s closer Trevor Megill ran into trouble, but pulled through for his 14th save. After a weak fly out to Arenado, he gave up a double to Gorman on the first pitch of the at-bat. Megill retaliated with a strikeout to Pedro Pages in a six pitch at-bat. After starting off 0-2, Pages was able to push the count deeper, but Megill got him with a knuckle curve dipping low and away.
Victor Scott II, who had come off the bench a few innings before, singled to bring the Cardinals within one run at a 3-2 scoreline. He stole second base, but Megill struck out Nootbaar to finish the game with a satisfactory win, even if it included a tense finish.
Milwaukee continues the series tomorrow with an afternoon game at 3:10 p.m.