ST. LOUIS – The Milwaukee Brewers will try for the series victory tonight as they take on the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 2 of a doubleheader July 7 at Busch Stadium.
Left-hander Robert Gasser (1-3, 4.54), designated as the 27th man, starts for the Brewers while right-hander Hunter Dobbin (1-0, 3.63) counters for the Cardinals.
It’s been a busy day already as Milwaukee won the first game 4-3 behind a strong start by Jacob Misiorowski and a big offensive game by Christian Yelich.
Also, outfield prospect Luis Lara was recalled from Class AAA Nashville in the morning and will make his major league debut in Game 2.
Outfielder Blake Perkins was optioned to Nashville in the corresponding move, while infielder David Hamilton was placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring and infielder-outfielder Greg Jones was selected from Nashville.
One bad pitch costs Robert Gasser…briefly
Gasser had it set on cruise control and was within a batter of posting six scoreless innings when Jordan Walker singled.
That brought Nelson Velázquez to the plate and after Gasser got in front of him, 0-2, Velázquez crushed a center-cut homer out to left center two pitches later to narrow Milwaukee’s lead to 3-2.
Gasser and the Brewers did get one of those runs back quickly as Joey Ortiz homered to lead off the seventh, giving him five hits on the day.
Two batters later, Lara drew a walk and then came all the way around to score on Brice Turang’s double to stretch Milwaukee’s lead back out to three runs again at 5-2.
The Brewers kept the pressure on with the next four batters all reaching and Gary Sánchez and Jackson Chourio combining to drive in three more runs with singles.
Cooper Pratt joined the party by ripping a two-run double into the left-field corner and just like that Milwaukee had a 10-2 lead and its first double-digit scoring output since June 8 against the A’s.
Luis Lara delivers in the clutch
Milwaukee loaded the bases in the fifth on a pair of walks and then a one-out single by Ortiz, which would have scored a run in most situations were it not for slow-footed Sánchez being the lead runner.
Yelich then struck out only for Lara to deliver in the clutch, as he pulled a two-run single into right field for his first career hit and runs batted in.
Lara celebrated at second base as Dobbins was pulled from the game with Milwaukee’s lead having been upped to 3-0.
Gasser, meanwhile, got on a roll after allowing two-out singles in the first and second as he faced just one over the minimum on a walk over the ensuing three with his pitch count sitting at just 51 entering the sixth.
Early lead for the Brewers
Pratt opened the third with his first career triple, hustling his way to third after dropping a ball into the right-field corner.
After Ortiz struck out, Yelich’s grounder to shortstop scored Pratt to give the Brewers the early 1-0 lead and Yelich his third run batted in on the day.
Milwaukee then flashed some serious leather in the bottom of the frame behind Gasser, first with Sal Frelick laying out to make a diving catch and rob Nathan Church of a hit in right-center. Then, three batters later Ortiz, made an unbelievable stop and throw on the grass behind third base, throwing over to first to record the out by a half-step with Andrew Vaughn completing the play with a terrific stretch.
What is the Brewers’ record?
57-33, first place in the National League Central.
What time is the second Brewers game today?
6:45 p.m.
Brewers lineup
Cardinals lineup
Brewers probable pitchers and schedule
Brewers at Cardinals, July 8, 6:45 p.m.: Brewers LHP Kyle Harrison (8-1, 2.82) vs. St. Louis RHP Andre Pallante (10-5, 3.60). TV – Brewers.TV. Radio – AM-620 WTMJ.
Brewers at Cardinals, July 9, 6:45 p.m.: Brewers TBA vs. St. Louis RHP Kyle Leahy (7-4, 3.86). TV – Brewers.TV. Radio – AM-620 WTMJ.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers 10, Cardinals 2: Milwaukee finally breaks it open
Reporting by Todd Rosiak, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Todd Rosiak, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
