If you think the Cardinals have issues with Jason Isringhausen as the closer, they’re not alone. The Brewers have issues with their shut down guy in Eric Gagne as well. He surrended the game winning, two out, two run single by Ryan Ludwick that gave the Cardinals a 5-3 win.
Both Gagne and Isringhausen have now blown five saves, with is tied for first among the NL "loser"board.
It really should have never gotten to a close game situation for the Brewers. Twice they had the bases loaded against Cardinal relievers and couldn’t blow the game open in a game the Cardinals were leading 3-0.
The Cardinals bullpen is starting to show kinks in the armour. Kyle McClellan came on in relief of Joel Pineiro and walked in two runs, but escaped with a 3-2 lead when the Brewers couldn’t deliver two out hits. Then Russ Springer walked two and gave up a hit in an innings worth of work and the Brewers couldn’t score.
Without Ludwick’s, clutch hitting, something that has been saving the Cardinals, they would have been looking at their fourth loss. After getting off to a franchise best 18 wins in April, I think the Cardinals are quickly descending back to earth while the Cubs have handled the top team in the NL, the Arizona Diamondbacks in two games.
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