The Cardinals jumped to a 9-4 lead after three innings, and the Brewers could not rebound from it. Shaun Marcum was lousy last night as he worked the first inning and he allowed 3 hits (1 homer), 4 runs (all earned), while walking 1 batter and whiffing 1. Marcum was the losing pitcher for the Brewers. Chris Narveson followed him into this game with a gas can. He worked the next 1 2/3 innings and he gave up 4 hits (2 homers), 5 runs (all earned) while whiffing 3 batters and walking only 1. LaTroy Hawkins worked the next 1 1/3 innings without giving up any runs. Kameron Loe gave up 2 hits and 2 unearned runs in only 1 inning for the Brewers. Takashi Saito tamed the Cardinals by working 2 shutout innings, allowing only 1 hit while whiffing 3 batters. Francisco Rodriguez was up next and he gave up 2 hits and 1 run (it was earned) in the 8th inning. John Axford pitched a scoreless 9th inning in which he gave up no runs and whiffed 2 batters. Jerry Hairston led the way with the bat last night as he was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored. Corey Hart (1 for 4 with 1 run scored and 1 RBI), Rickie Weeks (1 for 4 with 1 run scored and 1 RBI) and Jonathan Lucroy (1 for 3 with 1 run scored and 2 RBIs) pitched in with 1 homer apiece in this game. The Brewers’ season is now over as the Cardinals took them out 4-2 in this series.

The Brewers never had a chance last night as they had butterfingers in the field. 4 errors last night led to 3 unearned runs! Zack Greinke got the start and loss as he worked 5 2/3 innings allowing 7 hits, 5 runs (2 earned), walking 2 batters and he didn’t whiff anyone. He was 1 for 1 with a bat in his hands. Chris Narveson got the only batter out that he faced to end the sixth inning. Kameron Loe somehow worked a scoreless 7th innings despite giving up 2 hits while walking a batter and whiffing 1. Marco Estrada certainly didn’t help the cause last night by giving up 2 runs (both earned) on 1 hit and 2 walks in the bottom of the 8th inning. Corey Hart (3 for 4 with 1 RBI) and Jonathan Lucroy (2 for 3 with 1 run scored) led the way for the Brewers in this game offensively. Jerry Hairston (1 for 3), Ryan Braun (1 for 4 with a double) and Carlos Gomez (1 for 3) also pitched in last night for the Brewers. The Brewers are now down 3-2 in this series as it shifts back to Milwaukee tomorrow night.

The Milwaukee Brewers won with pitching last night in St. Louis. Randy Wolf was really solid after giving up a 1 in each the first and second innings last night. He worked 7 innings in which he allowed 6 hits, 2 runs (both earned), walked 1 batter and whiffed 6. Wolf was the winning pitcher. Francisco Rodriguez won a scoreless 8th inning to get the lead to closer John Axford. Axford worked a scoreless 9th inning to earn the save. Nyjer Morgan (2 for 4 with 1 run scored), Ryan Braun (2 for 5 with 1 RBI) and Jerry Hairston (2 for 4 with 1 run scored and 1 RBI) led the way for the Brewers with the bats last night. Prince Fielder (1 for 3 with 1 run scored) and Yuniesky Betancourt (1 for 4 with 1 RBI) also pitched in with the sticks last night. The Brewers have evened up this series at 2 games apiece.

The Brewers’ top four starters combined to start 127 games during the regular season in 2011 and they were 59-33 with a 3.64 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. But, in the playoffs, those same four guys have started 8 games in which they are 1-4 with a 7.46 ERA and a 1.75 WHIP. Righty Yovani Gallardo is the only guy pitching up to his ability in the playoffs out of this bunch. He has started 3 games so far in the playoffs for the Brewers and he is 1-1 with a 2.84 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. Righty Zack Greinke has gotten a lot of run support so far from the Brewers’ hitters. He has started 2 games for the Brewers so far in the playoffs and he is 1-0 with a 8.18 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. Righty Shaun Marcum has been absolutely pathic in the playoffs. He has started 2 games for the Brewers and he is 0-2 with a 12.46 ERA and a 2.08 WHIP. Lefty Randy Wolf has only started 1 game in the playoffs so far and he is 0-1 with a 21.00 ERA and a 3.67 WHIP. The Brewers aren’t going to make it to the World Series unless the starting pitchers get their acts together starting tonight in St. Louis.

Righty swinging LF Ryan Braun and lefty swinging 1B Prince Fielder are swinging hot bats in the playoffs for the Brewers so far. Braun has played in 8 games in the playoffs so far and he is 14 for 29 (.483 avg, 1.455 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 6 doubles, 2 homers, 8 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Prince Fielder has played in 8 games for the Brewers so far in the playoffs and he is 8 for 27 (.296 avg, 1.182 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 3 doubles, 3 homers and 6 RBIs. Opposing teams have really had a hard time getting around Braun and Fielder in the lineup as they are batting third and fourth. If the Brewers are going to make a comeback in this series, they are going to need Braun and Fielder to continue raking.