Times are sure tough for the Cardinals’ resident closer.

It was a 3-2 game in the bottom of the ninth, and Jason Isringhausen had already retired the first two Milwaukee batters.  But then came two straight singles, a walk, and a Rickie Weeks two-run hit that sealed the Redbirds’ fate last night.  The end result was a 4-3 loss to begin a four-game series with the third-place Brewers on the road.

The blown save was Isringhausen’s fifth of the season, and the loss pushed his record to 1-4.

After the game, manager Tony La Russa refused to say who would enter save situations from this point forward.

Starter Todd Wellemeyer pitched another good game, lasting six innings without giving up an earned run, although three Cardinal errors – one of them his own – hurt the right-hander.

Jason Isringhausen — Tony La Russa — Todd Wellemeyer (1:22 MP3)