After spotting the Brewers a six run lead in the second inning, the Cardinals looked to be down and out. They were on their way to losing their fourth consecutive game for the second time this year. The Cardinals never quit, however, and eventually broke through for a 10-6 win in Milwaukee.
St. Louis’ pitching staff has given up six or more runs the last six games. Their offense hasn’t been as good, they’ve lost four of those six. Starter Mark Mulder gave up all the runs before handing the game to five Cardinals relievers. Mulder continued his roller-coaster season lasting just three innings allowing six runs on five hits and walking three. He gave up a three-run homer in the first to Carlos Lee.
Milwaukee scored three more in the second to take a 6-0 lead. It was all St. Louis after that. The Brewers never crossed the plate again. Timely hitting and good patience by Cardinals hitters helped pull this one out. No home runs were hit by the visitors, but they did use five doubles and a triple to their advantage. The Redbirds sandwiched a six-run fourth between two-run innings in the third and fifth.
The rally was supported by Brewers pitchers Jorge De La Rosa and Joe Winkelsas who walked six batters in the third and fourth innings alone. All six batters who walked scored.
David Eckstein had three hits and two RBIs in the contest. Scott Spiezio, filling in at first base for the injured Albert Pujols, had three RBIs.
So Taguchi and Hector Luna both had multi-hit games. Taguchi also drove in two runs.
Josh Hancock took over for Mulder in the fourth. He pitched a perfect two innings striking out three to get the win. Jason Isringhausen earned his 19th save of the year.
The win put the Cardinals (36-24) back in first place in the NL Central after a day in second.
