Milwaukee, WI – Jon Jay hit the go-ahead single in the top of the ninth inning and had a three-run homer earlier for the St. Louis Cardinals, who downed the Milwaukee Brewers, 7-6, Saturday in the third installment of a four-game set at Miller Park.
Jay drove in Shane Robinson with the eventual game-winning run, with Robinson leading off the ninth with a single and advancing to second on an error from Carlos Gomez, then adding to the cause by swiping third base to help Jay easily drive him in.
"When we go out there and we battle, we've got a pretty good offense," Jay said. "We've been winning games. We all believe in ourselves and we just have to have that mind-set every day."
Allen Craig had two hits -- including a solo homer -- and scored twice, while Daniel Descalso had a two-run shot for the Cardinals, who have won five straight.
"We saw a little bit of their relentless approach that helps guys to know that if they stay with it, they can come back," St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said.
Seth Maness (1-0) picked up the win after forcing an inning-ending double play to end the eighth.
"I had two pitchers who were down today so I had to make every pitcher count," Added Matheny. "Maness kept the ball down and got a big double play in the eighth."
Jean Segura hit a two-run homer, Jonathan Lucroy had a pinch-hit two-run single and Gomez added a solo blast for Milwaukee, which has lost four straight overall and nine of its last 12 versus St. Louis.
Tom Gorzelanny had a blown save in the seventh after replacing starter Yovani Gallardo. Jim Henderson (2-1) absorbed the loss, allowing the winning run as well as Robinson's and Jay's singles in the final frame.
"It was tough game to lose," Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke said. "But we still should have won the game. Yovani threw the ball well, but he made a couple of mistakes. They came through with big hits."
St. Louis starter Adam Wainwright allowed 11 hits and five runs over 5 1/3 innings. He also gave up his first two home runs of the season.
Logan Schafer's eighth inning single moved Jeff Bianchi to third base. Norichika Aoki then laid down a sacrifice bunt off Randy Choate to score Bianchi, pulling Milwaukee even at 6-6.
In the seventh, Gorzelanny replaced Gallardo and quickly struggled. He issued a leadoff walk to Jay and then allowed a single to Pete Kozma, although, Jay was thrown out attempting to reach third on the play.
The next batter, Descalso, fell behind 1-2 in the count, but managed to line a two-run shot over the right field wall to give the Cards a 6-5 lead.
The Brewers trailed 4-2 through the top of the sixth, after Craig clubbed a solo shot to right field. Milwaukee, though, plated three runs in the bottom of the frame.
Gomez smacked a solo homer to left-center to close the deficit to 4-3 and Martin Maldonado then followed with a single, before moving to third on Alex Gonzalez's double to left. That's when Lucroy, who pinch-hit for Gallardo, came through with a two-run single to center to give Milwaukee a 5-4 advantage.
In the second, David Freese hit a infield single to short to put runners on first and second. Jay then crushed Gallardo's 2-0 offering deep to center for a three-run blast and a 3-2 Cardinals lead.
Milwaukee jumped on the board in the bottom of the first. Aoki led off with a single and Segura hit the first pitch he saw over the right-center wall to give the hosts a 2-0 lead.
Game Notes
St. Louis announced on Friday that relief pitcher Jason Motte will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the remainder of the season ... Wainwright has 48 strikeouts this season while walking only three batters in 49 1/3 innings ... Cardinals' reliever Edward Mujica earned his eighth save of the season after tossing a perfect ninth ... Gallardo has not earned a victory in his last nine starts versus the Cards.
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