Cards salvage win in final game with Brewers

The Cardinals offense found itself in the final game of its three-game series with the Brewers, scoring in five of the first six innings on its way to a 9-3 win over Milwaukee.

Still, the Brewers took two of the three games in the series and have a 5½-game lead over the Cardinals heading into May.

"The last couple of games they outfought us," manager Mike Matheny said. "The last two nights, that's what it came down to. They executed and got it done. This homestand could have looked a lot different if we did a couple of little things right. Those aren't always going to happen.

"We're going to keep working, that's all there is to it. Hopefully get a few more guys with confidence offensively and that seems to take the pressure off the other areas we've been lacking in. Today was a good day."

Allen Craig had four hits, three for extra bases, and drove in three runs while Matt Adams hit a three-run homer.

"It was nice to see some big production that we know is going to come from certain guys," Matheny said. "A big day for Allen, and watching the ball jump off his bat, you could see it coming. He's in a good spot now and hopefully we'll just keep passing that on to a couple of other fellows."

The Cardinals are off Thursday before playing in Chicago on Friday.

Shelby Miller allowed two home runs as the Cardinals fell behind 3-1 in the third inning before scoring runs in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Miller allowed three runs in six innings and struck out just one hitter.

"I thought Shelby was good at times," Matheny said. "I thought at it left him at times too. We'll see him really sharp, then we'll see balls hit the middle of the plate. You're going to get good teams that aren't going to let you get away with that. The ball was carrying a little bit better today and he's going to pay when he gets to that spot where he's in the middle of the plate up in the zone. He can be effective up there, but not when he gets into hitter's counts and not when he catches too much of the middle." - See more at: http://www.fancyjersey.com