The Milwaukee Brewers hit a season high in runs but still needed Josh Hader at his milestone best on Sunday to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-5 to earn a split of their season opening four game series at American Family Field. Hader finished off a tense ninth inning with that one run lead by striking out a pair to earn the 100th save of his career. He becomes just the third Brewer to hit that milestone trailing John Axford (106) and Dan Plesac (133) on the team’s all-time list.
The Brewers got the jump on St. Louis starter Dakota Hudson who walked the first three batters he faced in the opening inning. All three came in to score as Andrew McCutcheon and Rowdy Tellez delivered RBI’s and Christian Yelich came in on a Cardinal error. Milwaukee starter Aaron Ashby gave all three runs back on one pitch as veteran Albert Pujols hit a mammoth, three bomb deep to left in the top of the third to tie the game.
Milwaukee tacked on three more runs with Keston Hiura and Tyrone Taylor delivering key hits, Taylor finished two for four with a couple of runs batted in. Holding on to a 6-3 lead in the 8th, set up man Devin Williams had trouble holding on to it. He gave up two hits and a pair of walks as St. Louis plated a pair of runs, setting the stage for Hader’s heroics and milestone save.
The Brewers (5-5) wrap up the home stand with a three game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Eric Lauer will face Zach Thompson in the opener Monday night at American Family. Pre- game coverage begins at 6:05 PM with the first pitch on WTAQ at 6:40 PM.
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