• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Cardinals throw dagger in Brewers' postseason hopes

Sep 27, 2007 - 4:37 AM By David Cotey PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) - The Milwaukee Brewers squandered an opportunity to accomplish two major goals, and now time is running out for both.

The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Brewers, 7-3, on Wednesday at Miller Park, preventing Milwaukee from locking up its first winning season since 1992.

More importantly, the loss kept the Brewers (81-77) from gaining a game on the National League Central Division-leading Chicago Cubs (83-75), who lost to the Florida Marlins on Wednesday but saw their magic number shrink to three with Milwaukee's defeat.

"You can't lose hope," Brewers starter Carlos Villanueva said. "We'll see what happens. It doesn't matter (if the Cubs lose) if we don't win. We have to keep the pressure on them."

Righthander Brad Thompson (8-6) did not allow an earned run over six innings, and Albert Pujols homered to lead the Cardinals past the Brewers, who remained two games behind the Cubs with four remaining.

Pujols became the first player in major league history to have at least 30 home runs and 100 RBI in his first seven seasons.

"We still have the math on our side," Brewers manager Ned Yost said.

Milwaukee scored single runs in both the first and second innings against Thompson on a pair of doubles by rookie Ryan Braun, but St. Louis answered right back with two in the third.

Aaron Miles led off with a single off Villanueva (8-5) and moved to second on Brendan Ryan's sacrifice. After Rick Ankiel struck out swinging, Pujols was walked intentionally. Ryan Ludwick made that strategy backfire with a two-run double into the left field corner.

"We got beat up the first two games, and it's real easy this last week of the season to say we just don't have enough going for us and get embarrassed again," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "We weren't going to do it. That's not how we played all year."

The Cardinals broke open the game - and broke the Brewers' backs - with a four-run eighth inning highlighted by So Taguchi's two-out pinch double.

St. Louis jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Pujols belted his 32nd home run down the right field line, giving the first baseman 100 RBI for the seventh consecutive season.

"That's tough to do consistently every year, but I wish I could trade it in and be in the postseason next month," Pujols said. "That's what it's all about. I don't play for numbers, but hopefully I can continue to do that."

The Brewers got just four runners past first after the second inning against Thompson and relievers Brian Falkenborg, Randy Flores, Ryan Franklin and Jason Isringhausen.

Bad blood boiled between the teams as their star sluggers were hit with pitches. Prince Fielder, the NL leader with 50 home runs, was hit by Thompson in the second inning, after which both teams were warned by plate umpire Tom Hallion.

In the top of the eighth, Brewers reliever Seth McClung hit Pujols in the back with the only pitch he threw in the game. McClung and Yost were ejected.

Allowing Pujols to reach opened the door to a big inning for St. Louis, and the Brewers claimed it was not a retaliation pitch.

"The ball just got away from me," McClung said. "Sometimes I overthrow. It got away from me and hit him. We're trying to win ballgames. I tried to get inside, and it hit him."

On Tuesday, Yost, Milwaukee bench coach Dale Sveum and La Russa exchanged heated words from their respective dugouts after Brewers starter Jeff Suppan nearly hit Pujols with a pitch during a 9-1 victory.

Thompson scattered five hits, walking three and striking out three. He also hit two batters.

Villanueva also pitched six innings and allowed three runs and five hits while walking four and striking out three.

The Brewers left the bases loaded in the first two innings and stranded a total of nine runners through four frames before St. Louis' pitching settled down to retire 14 straight batters.

"It was just one of those days where we were unable to get the big hit," Braun said. "We're in situation where we no longer control our own destiny, so it's a must-win every day. The Marlins took care of business and we weren't able to take advantage, unfortunately."