Less than 24 hours after being named Milwaukee’s closer, Francisco Rodriquez nearly blew another save opportunity for the Brewers, but the Cardinals came up short losing 3-2.
Rodriguez gave up a leadoff double to David Freese, then a single to Yadier Molina to put runners on first and third with no outs in the ninth. Rodriguez got Matt Carpenter to ground out, holding Frees third, and struck out pinch hitter Skip Schumaker. With runners on second and third, Rodriguez got pinch-hitter Daniel Descalso to pop up to end the game.
Randy Wolf, who always seems to pitch well against the Cardinals, went 6.2 innings, giving up two runs and eight hits with a walk and six strikeouts to end his long winless streak. Wolf hasn’t had a victory since April 30. Wolf was 0-4 with a 5.45 ERA during his last 12 starts. During that stretch, he left seven games with the lead, only to have the bullpen blow it. The Cardinals failed to make it eight.
Matt Holliday left in the first inning after getting hit with a pitch on the leg and Lance Berkman was kicked out of the game for arguing a call.