By MATT PIKE
The Milwaukee Brewers spoiled Dustin May's near no hitter, getting two runs in the eighth inning after back-to-back hits off the St. Louis Cardinals starter chased him from the game, leading to an eventual 2-1 win and a sweep of the Redbirds at American Family Field.
May gave up just two hits, and allowed just two total baserunners prior to the back-to-back hits leading off the eighth inning. May hit Jake Bauers with a pitch in the second inning, and Sal Frelick reached thanks to catcher's interference to lead off the third inning. After the double by Garrett Mitchell and single from Luis Rengifo on a bunt, May was pulled for JoJo Romero.
The Cardinals held a 1-0 lead from the fourth inning on, until the eighth inning rally, after Jordan Walker singled to lead off the inning, and then after back-to-back strikeouts by Nolan Gorman and Masyn Winn, Bryan Torres tripled, driving in Walker for the lead.
After Romero took the mound in the eighth inning, with runners on the corners, Frelick grounded into a force out reaching first as Rengifo was thrown out at second for the first out. Pinch hitter Andrew Vaughn struck out for the second out, and as it looked like Romero was about to escape danger, on a 2-0 count, Christian Yelich tied the game with an RBI single scoring Mitchell, moving Frelick to third.
In the next at bat, on the first pitch, Jackson Chourio hit a routine ground ball to the Gold Glover Winn, but Winn bobbled the ball, and Frelick scored on the error, giving the Brewers the lead. After only recording three errors last season, earning his first Gold Golve, Winn has committed five errors already this season. After Romero got Brice Turang to ground out, ending the inning, Trevor Megill took the mound for the save, allowing a single to Winn with one out, and Winn stealing second base, but after a fly out by Torres moved Winn to third, Megill struck out Yohel Pozo ending the game.
Despite his gem, May took the loss, falling to 3-6 on the season, giving up two runs, one earned, on two hits and striking out nine in seven innings. It was the second blown save of the season for Romero. At the plate, Walker was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Torres was 1-for-4 with a triple and an RBI, while JJ Wetherholt was 1-for-4 with a double.
St. Louis will have the day off tomorrow and will return to Busch Stadium on Friday to host the Chicago Cubs. First pitch will be at 6:15pm, with coverage beginning at 6:05 on KY 102 (102.5 FM) as Kyle Leahy (5-3, 4.44 ERA, 42 K's) takes the mound for the Cardinals. Chicago has yet to announce a starter.
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