Milwaukee @ St. Louis preview
Busch Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 10, 2011 ) St. Louis 12, Milwaukee 3
THE STORY: Game 1 was Ryan Braun’s time to shine. Game 2 belonged to Albert Pujols. The St. Louis Cardinals jumped back into the National League Championship Series on Monday behind a postseason record-tying four extra-base hits from Pujols to go along with five RBIs. While the offense has been the highlight of the first two games, the pitchers will try to retake control when dueling aces Yovani Gallardo and Chris Carpenter square off in Game 3 on Wednesday night at Busch Stadium.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, TBS
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Yovani Gallardo (17-10, 3.52 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Chris Carpenter (11-9, 3.45 ERA).
Gallardo allowed two runs over 14 innings while striking out 14 against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the LDS. The only time Gallardo has not posted a quality start in his last 10 turns was against St. Louis on Sept. 1, when he was pounded for eight runs in 4 2/3 innings and surrendered a pair of homers to Pujols. He went 1-3 with a 5.70 ERA in four starts against the Cardinals in 2011.
Carpenter turned in an outing for the ages in Game 5 of the LDS at Philadelphia, allowing three hits in a shutout to beat Roy Halladay and the Phillies, 1-0. He was knocked out after three innings in Game 2. The veteran righthander shut out the Brewers on four hits on Sept. 7 and went 2-2 with a 3.86 ERA in four starts against them this season.
ABOUT THE BREWERS: Milwaukee pitching has allowed a total of 18 runs and 26 hits through the first two games, with starters Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum taking turns getting pounded. Braun and Prince Fielder were able to help the offense overcome Greinke’s struggles in a 9-6 victory in Game 1. But St. Louis manager Tony La Russa pushed all the right buttons with his bullpen in Game 2, thwarting the Brewers’ rally attempts.
ABOUT THE CARDINALS: Its all about Pujols, who came into Game 2 with one RBI in six previous games this postseason and snapped a 47 at-bat playoff homerless streak with a two-run shot in the first inning. He followed that up with three straight doubles to lead the 17-hit Game 2 assault. With home field advantage now on St. Louis’ side, the team will be looking to close the series over the next three days at Busch.
FINAL PITCH: Monday’s 12-3 drubbing marked the Brewers worst home loss of the season. They had won all four of their previous playoff games at Miller Park.