Westbrook tries to pitch Cards to series win over Brewers
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Jake Westbrook tries to put a tough four weeks behind him and pitch the St. Louis Cardinals to a series victory on Wednesday afternoon in the finale of a three-game set versus the Milwaukee Brewers.
Westbrook has made three starts and one relief appearance since his last win on July 24, picking up a loss in each outing. He also has a 10.13 earned run average over that span and is coming off a 7-0 setback to the Chicago Cubs on Friday.
The right-hander was charged with seven runs -- six earned -- on eight hits and five walks, falling to 7-8 with a 4.35 ERA in 18 games (17 starts) this season.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"It's not what any of us were looking for. He had trouble finding the release point for his sinker," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said about Westbrook. "He just couldn't find the feel for it."
The 35-year-old has had a good feel for things versus the Brewers, posting a solid 2.89 ERA in nine career starts against them. Westbrook is just 3-4 in the matchup, but won his lone outing versus Milwaukee this year on May 2, giving up a run over six innings in the road triumph.
The Brewers counter with Tom Gorzelanny, who is 3-4 with a 2.95 ERA in 40 games this year, including eight starts.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The 31-year-old lefty has not suffered a loss since July 22, but lasted just 4 2/3 innings on Friday versus Cincinnati. Gorzelanny gave up five runs on six hits and three walks, but was taken off the hook in the Brewers' 7-6 win.
Gorzelanny has faced the Cardinals 15 times in his career, with nine starts, posting a 2-5 record and 4.53 ERA.
The Brewers suffered their fifth straight loss at home to the Cardinals in Monday's opener, but rebounded to win last night 6-3.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Sean Halton highlighted a five-run fourth inning with a two-run single, while Scooter Gennett, Logan Schafer and Norichika Aoki also drove in a run each in the frame.
"It snowballed (on us) a little bit ... and we couldn't get it stopped," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said of the pivotal frame.
Kyle Lohse held his former club to three runs on six hits over six innings to pick up the win.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I don't put any more emphasis on any one game over the other," said Lohse when asked about pitching against the Cardinals. "I went out there and tried to do what I've been doing."
Lance Lynn was tagged for all six runs -- four earned -- on nine hits over six frames as St. Louis had its three-game win streak snapped. The Cardinals are two games behind the Pittsburgh Pirates for first place in the NL Central.
Yadier Molina hit a two-run homer and Kolten Wong had three of St. Louis' eight hits.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Cardinals have won nine of 12 versus the Brewers this season, sweeping a four-game set in Milwaukee from May 2-5.