Yadier Molina’s grand slam in the 8th inning capped a six run outburst for the Cardinals who then held off a late charge by the Milwaukee Brewers to win 8-6 up at Miller Park on Monday afternoon.
It was a great pitcher’s contest between Jake Westbrook and Milwaukee’s Yovani Gallardo, their staff’s ace, as each pitcher held the opposition down to two runs. In the 8th, the bullpens faltered. After a hit batsmen, a walk, a couple of run scoring singles, Molina came up with the bases loaded and launched a grand slam to left field off reliever Todd Coffey.
I thought Tony LaRussa might manage himself right out of the game with his pitching changes. Mitchell Boggs started the inning and gave up a lead off double to Corey Hart before striking out Ryan Braun and giving way to lefty specialist Trever Miller to face Prince Fielder who reached on an errot. Kyle McClellan came in and gave up a single to Casey McGehee and a two out double in the left field corner to Alcides Escobar. That scored Fielder, but a great cut off throw from Brendan Ryan nailed McGehee at the plate limiting the damage to two runs.
Up 8-4 in the ninth, Ryan Franklin gave up a two run homer to Corey Hart with two outs, then walked Ryan Braun after getting him to 0-2. Frankling battled to get Fielder to ground out to first to end the game.
