5 stars for St. Louis Cardinals in series split with Brewers

The Cardinals had many ups and downs as they split their series with NL Central rival Milwaukee Brewers.

The St. Louis Cardinals remained tied atop the NL Central after splitting a four-game set with the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Brewers took Monday’s game 2-0. The Cardinals won on Tuesday 6-2 and Wednesday 5-4. The Brewers took Thursday’s game 6-4. The series was incredibly competitive with several players stepping up to the occasion.

That occasion was a series that could have led to a substantial lead for one team atop the NL Central. Instead, the two teams fought it out, split the series, and remain tied for the NL Central lead. While Cardinals fans would have preferred a sweep of the Brewers, it just wasn’t in the cards, so to speak.

The Cardinals desperately needed dominant performances from their starters in this series but were met with huge disappointment.

After almost throwing a no-hitter in his last outing, Miles Mikolas is now 5-5 on the season with his loss Monday. Mikolas pitched 6.1 innings, giving up four hits, two walks, and two earned runs. He gave up a home run to Tyrone Taylor. He struck out three batters and induced seven swings and misses.

Brewers ace Corbin Burnes out-dueled Mikolas as he pitched seven innings and strike out ten batters, whilst inducing 20 swings and misses.  In equal disappointment, the Cardinals offense just could not get anything going against Burnes.

In his second start of the season, Jack Flaherty pitched three innings, giving up three hits, five walks and two earned runs. He gave up a home run to Willy Adames. He struck out one and induced four swings and misses. He got a no-decision in the cause.

Andrew Knizner is not the Adam Wainwright whisperer that Yadier Molina has been. Knizner got Wainwright for a second straight start on Wednesday. In a no decision, Wainwright pitched 4.2 innings giving up seven hits, one walk, and four runs, including home runs to Rowdy Tellez and Andrew McCutchen. He did strike out seven batters and induced six swings and misses.

Dakota Hudson earned his fourth loss of the season on Thursday. He pitched 4.1 innings, giving up seven hits, three walks and five earned runs, including giving up home runs to Tyrone Taylor and Willy Adamez. Hudson did strike out two and induced seven swings and misses.

Junior Fernandez pitched 1.2 innings, givin gup a walk and striking out two while inducing two swings and misses. He topped out at a velocity of 100.1 mph. Drew VerHagen had a rough appearance in relief, not getting a single out. He gave up a hit, two walks and a run. Nick Wittgren pitched an inning of relief, striking out one.

The Cardinals head back to St. Louis to play a key series against another NL Central rival, the Chicago Cubs. The long-time foes facing off in a three-game set should be as exciting as usual.

Now let’s take a look at the players who stood out for the Cardinals in the Brewers series.

Johan Oviedo

After struggling for the past couple of seasons through some disastrous starts, Johan Oviedo earned his first major league victory. Oviedo was emotional as he finally got that win. It was from an appearance in relief of Adam Wainwright, but Oviedo will take it.

Oviedo pitched 2.1 innings and struck out three batters and induced three swings and misses.

Oviedo also pitched in relief of Mikolas on Monday. He threw 1.2 innings, giving up two hits and striking out one, and inducing three swings and misses in the outing.

Also Wednesday, Genesis Cabrera earned his first save of the season after pitching two innings, walking two and striking out one.

Zack Thompson

Zack Thompson earned his first major league victory after 1.2 innings of work, walking one and striking out two while

Also, Drew VerHagen pitched a third of an inning earning his third hold of the season. Giovanny Gallegos earned his third hold of the season, pitching two innings. He struck out one batter.

Ryan Helsley pitched the final two innings, giving up a hit but striking out two. He did induce five swings and misses, while topping out his velocity at 101 mph.

Nolan Arenado

After an off night Monday, Nolan Arenado stepped up Tuesday evening going 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI. Arenado had this nifty play on defense Monday.

In the eighth inning on Tuesday, Arenado singled to left field scoring Tommy Edman.

In the fourth inning of Wednesday’s game, Albert Pujols hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Arenado. Arenando was on board after hitting a double that went 333-feet at 109.7 mph.

In the sixth inning, Arenado launched his 14th home run of the season on a fly to left-center field, scoring Goldschmidt. The home run traveled 406-feet at 104.3 mph.

Paul Goldschmidt

After winning NL Player of the Week for his performance last week, Goldschmidt was 0-for-4 on Monday and was out of Tuesday’s game with a stiff lower back.

That day off was just what Goldschmidt needed. In the first inning, Goldschmidt hit his 17th home run of the season on a fly to left field, scoring Dylan Carlson. The homer traveled 377-feet at an easy 96.2 mph.

It was awesome to see Goldschmidt and Arenado knock home runs during the same game. It should be something that happens more often!

The Cardinals got off to a wild start on Thursday in the first inning as Goldschmidt knocked a double in a line drive to left field. Nolan Gorman scored on the hit. AFter a throwing error from Willy Adames and Jason Alexander, Goldschmidt scored.

Take a look at this play. Unreal!

In the fifth inning, Lars Nootbaar his his second home run of the season, on a line drive to right field. this home run traveled 393 feet at 107 mph.  In the sixth, Juan Yepez hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Goldschmidt.