Pinch runner falls and Cardinals can’t get up

ST. LOUIS» Fortunately for the Milwaukee Brewers, they didn’t slip up.

The Brewers clinched their first playoff spot since 2011 by ensuring at least a spot in the NL wildcard game, helped Wednesday night when a rookie St. Louis pinch runner suddenly fell on his way to the plate in a 21 win over the contending Cardinals.

“I saw him go down, and luckily we were able to put a tag on him and get him out,” Brewers reliever Josh Hader said. “I’ve never seen that before, but it was definitely good on our side.”

The Brewers (9267) remained a halfgame behind the NL Centralleading Chicago Cubs. Milwaukee’s win also sealed a postseason berth for the Cubs.

Milwaukee is 3½ games ahead of Colorado for the top wildcard slot. St. Louis (8771) fell 1½ games behind the Rockies for the second and final wildcard berth.

The Cardinals missed a big chance to tie it in the eighth inning. Matt Carpenter drew a twoout walk and was lifted for pinch runner Adolis Garcia. Jose Martinez then hit a slow roller to third baseman Mike Moustakas, who threw wildly to first.

Garcia was waved home, but slipped rounding third base and fell halfway to the plate. He got to his feet and had no chance, easily tagged out after second baseman Hernan Perez made a strong throw.

“The kid’s giving you everything he’s got. It’s just unfortunate he fell,” Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said. “It’s one of those things that happened. Clearly, it would’ve tied the game, but it wasn’t for lack of effort. Things happen, and he was giving everything he had.”

Milwaukee turned that break into a threegame sweep at Busch Stadium. And while the Brewers enjoyed an enthusiastic celebration in their clubhouse, the prospect of catching the Cubs still hung in the air.

“We like our chances, but obviously winning the division would be huge,” outfielder Ryan Braun said. “The wildcard game, no matter how good you are, it is always somewhat of a coin flip. So we have to take care of business.”