Milwaukee Brewers vs. St. Louis Cardinals: MLB Post Game Analysis
The Milwaukee Brewers displayed the depth in their roster as they comprehensively defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 4-1 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis Missouri on Monday, September 5.
This win gave the Brewers an added advantage as they extended their lead to 10.5 over the Cardinals in the National League Central division. They now are only weeks away from making an appearance in the playoffs, a possibility which no one could have risked
before the All-Star break.
Randy Wolf was quick to regain his winning form after having succumbed to Jake Westbrook in their previous encounter on August 31. Wolf brought his entire arsenal into play to win his 12th game after eight innings of hard-work. He threw a total
of 112 pitches and conceded just one run amid four hits to improve drastically from his previous outing.
Wolf lacked accuracy in the game played on August 31, pitching five innings for six earned-runs. His earned-run average had soared up to 3.58 after the game but he was effective enough in this game to bring the ERA down to 3.47, a slightly decent stat. An
incentive to cement a place in the rotation for the postseason coupled by the confidence instilled by the bull-pen was enough motivation for Randy to pick up on his form.
"I just wanted to concentrate on slowing my body down," Wolf said. "Today, my body was in a position where I could throw off-speed pitches in any count."
Wolf was well complimented by closer John Axford who completed his 41st save of the season. The closer pitched a spotless ninth to record his league-leading 41st save in 43 chances. Where other closers focus on throwing fastballs in
the ultimate inning, Axford does not hesitate in exposing his variety in the depth and this is where the advantage lies for Milwaukee heading into the postseason. The Brewers are content to stick with Axford as their closer and with their opposition familiar
with this fact as well, variety is an obligation.
The Brewers did well to maintain their average of scoring four runs per game and Ryan Braun was central to their effort once again. The left outfielder improved his batting average to .335 after two hits in five at-bats and inched closer to the .600 slugging
percentage after a mammoth home-run down centre-field. Prince Fielder, however, failed to connect from the plate and will now want to ensure that complacency does not take the better of him in the games to come.
Corey Hart had a day to bask in personal glory as he extended his hitting streak to 17 games after a single in the top of the second inning. This streak has given Hart the required momentum to continue his hitting form in the build-up to the playoffs.
The Cardinals could have given the Brewers a tough time but their starter Jake Westbrook was not up to his usual best in the game. A replica of his previous start would have been sufficient to see the Cardinals through but playing at home proved to be tough
for Westbrook. He, nevertheless, still has a strong case to retain his place in the rotation for the next season.
The Brewers suffered a blow when second baseman Jerry Hairston Jr. had to leave the game citing neck soreness. He is likely to miss the game on Tuesday, September 6 but the management will want him back well before the playoffs.
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