Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Chacin, Brewers shut down Cards
ST. LOUIS — Jhoulys Chacin had some extra motivation.
Mike Moustakas hit a two-run double, giving Chacin all the runs he needed to beat St. Louis for the first time in his career with the Milwaukee Brewers’ 2-1 victory over the Cardinals on Sunday.
“I can die now,” Chacin joked to reporters.
Milwaukee (69-57) snapped a three-game losing streak and moved back ahead of St. Louis (68-57) for the second National League wild card. The Cardinals lost for just the second time in their last 12 games.
“We talk about racking up wins and banking wins and we banked a win today and got a great pitching performance,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “I thought we swung the bats pretty good. It’s a good win. That’s a team that’s right in the thick of things and going
to be there for the rest of the year.”
Chacin (13-4) entered the game 0-7 with a 6.90 ERA in nine career games, including eight starts, against the Cardinals, but shut them out through six innings as the Brewers avoided their first three-game sweep at St. Louis since July 1-3, 2016.
“This might be the biggest game of the season for me,” Chacin said. “The Cardinals have always been tough on me and this year it was an obsession.”
Chacin has won his last three starts and has given up three runs in his last 19 innings. The Brewers improved to 19-8 in his starts this season.
“I thought he kept them off balance, his slider was again good and his fastball,” Counsell said. “He threw fastballs and it was good sequencing.”
Jeremy Jeffress gave up a run in two innings of relief and Josh Hader pitched a perfect ninth to earn his 10th save in 13 opportunities for the Brewers.
Moustaskas hammered an 0-2 pitch down the first-base line to score Orlando Arcia and Lorenzo Cain, giving the Brewers a 2-0 lead in the third. Arcia and Cain each stole a base to help get them into scoring position ahead of Moustaskas.
“We always talk about little things and being able to vary our times and our holds and being quick to the plate is important, something that we’ve done really really well all year,” Cardinals interim manager Mike Shildt said of Cain’s steal. “The reality is the guy’s an accomplished base stealer as well. It was a big play.”
John Gant (5-5) gave up two runs on six hits and two walks in 41/3 innings. Gant has failed to make it past 41/3 innings in three of his last four starts.
“It was just one of those days,” Gant said. “I never really found a good, solid groove.”
Brett Cecil pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth, Tyson Ross followed with three scoreless innings and Mike Mayers added another as Cardinals relievers combined for 42/3 shutout innings.
Patrick Wisdom hit his first career home run 414 feet into the bleachers in left-center to lead off the eighth
for St. Louis.
The Brewers had lost six of their last eight heading into the game.
REDS 11, GIANTS 4 Eugenio Suarez hit a two-run homer during Cincinnati’s seven-run third inning, and the Reds swept San Francisco. Jose Peraza also hit a two-run homer for lastplace Cincinnati, which outscored San Francisco 18-5 in the last two games. Billy Hamilton tripled twice and drove in three runs.
ROCKIES 4, BRAVES 2 DJ LeMahieu homered, German Marquez pitched seven solid innings and Colorado closed out its first four-game sweep in Atlanta. PIRATES 2, CUBS 1 (11) Adam Frazier hit a game-ending homer in the 11th inning, and Pittsburgh beat the Chicago Cubs for a split of their four-game series.
MARLINS 12, NATIONALS 1 Jose Urena made the most of his borrowed time, pitching a two-hitter for his first complete game in the majors and leading Miami over Washington. Urena (4-12) was suspended for six games by Major League Baseball after hitting Atlanta rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. on Wednesday. Urena was ejected from that start after throwing one fastball and appealed the penalty, keeping him eligible to play.
DIAMONDBACKS 4, PADRES 3 A.J. Pollock homered in the ninth inning, and Arizona beat San Diego to stay on top of the NL West.
METS 8, PHILLIES 2 Amed Rosario had three hits and drove in three runs, and the New York Mets went from cheering on players in the Little League World Series to impressing the youngsters in a victory over Philadelphia in Williamsport, Pa.. AMERICAN LEAGUE RAYS 2, RED SOX 0 Former Arkansas Razorback Jalen Beeks pitched four strong innings and Tampa Bay limited Boston to two hits, blanking the AL East leaders.
YANKEES 10, BLUE JAYS 2 J.A. Happ stayed unbeaten with the New York Yankees by topping his former Toronto teammates, and Greg Bird hit a grand slam during a six-run first inning in a win over the Blue Jays.
INDIANS 8, ORIOLES 0 Melky Cabrera hit a grand slam to cap a six-run fourth inning, four pitchers combined on the team’s AL-leading 13th shutout and Cleveland continued to roll through August with a victory over Baltimore.
WHITE SOX 7, ROYALS 6 Omar Narvaez homered and drove in the go-ahead run with a single, Chicago relievers tossed seven scoreless innings and the White Sox rallied from a six-run deficit for a victory over Kansas City.
TWINS 5, TIGERS 4 Eddie Rosario hit a tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning and Minnesota connected three times in all, beating Detroit. Max Kepler and Jake Cave also homered as the Twins won for the fifth time in six games.
ASTROS 9, ATHLETICS 4 Justin Verlander pitched just well enough to earn his 200th career win and Houston hit five home runs, beating Oakland to avoid a sweep and retake sole possession of the AL West lead. RANGERS 4, ANGELS 2 Rougned Odor connected on a go-ahead, three-run homer with rain falling in the seventh inning, and Texas beat the Los Angeles Angels to wrap up a soggy weekend. INTERLEAGUE DODGERS 12, MARINERS 1 Clayton Kershaw pitched seven sharp innings for his 150th career win, Justin Turner homered and drove in five runs, and the Los Angeles Dodgers routed Seattle.