Catch of day: Broxton saves Brewers

MILWAUKEE — Brewers closer Corey Knebel told center fielder Keon Broxton he owes him big time. For good reason. Domingo Santana and Jonathan Villar homered in the sixth inning, and Broxton made a leaping catch over the wall for the final out in the Brewers’ 6-5 win over the Cardinals on Wednesday.

Knebel pitched the ninth for his 30th save. He allowed a leadoff single to Yadier Molina, struck out the next two batters, and then watched Broxton snag Randal Grichuk’s deep blast to end the game.

“I wouldn’t say it’s the best one I’ve ever made, but it’s definitely one of the most important ones I’ve made,” Broxton said. “It’s huge. It’s everything. It’s what every outfielder dreams of: making a catch like that in the bottom of the ninth to secure the win.”

Broxton replaced starting center fielder Hernan Perez with one out in the eighth as part of a double switch.

“I’m glad he was in there, for sure,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “Although Hernan Perez says he would’ve made the play.”

Chase Anderson (8-3) gave up two hits — both homers — in six innings, three earned runs, struck out six and walked two to improve to 4-0 in nine starts at Miller Park this season.

The Cardinals fell 2 games behind the second-place Brewers in the NL Central despite two home runs from Tommy Pham, who has 19 on the season.

Grichuk hit his 17th homer in the fifth and Cardinals manager Mike Matheny thought he had another in the ninth.

“It was a good play,” Matheny said. “Off the bat, I thought that ball was far enough, but he made a great play out there.”