Brewers 2, Cardinals 1: Offense continues to sputter, but pitchers do the heavy lifting

Until the Milwaukee Brewers' offense decides to show up in the second half, the burden will continue to fall on the pitching staff.

Starter Matt Garza and the relief corps were up to the task Thursday afternoon, allowing the Brewers to hang on for a tense 2-1 victory over St. Louis and a rare home series victory over the Cardinals.

The Cardinals had won 13 consecutive series at Miller Park dating to July 2012. Only Ryan Braun remains from that Brewers club, and he did not play in this game.

"About time," said centerfielder Keon Broxton, who had a big day with a home run-robbing catch and decisive RBI single. "We're just trying to create something new here and build our own identity. Just play the way we know how to and not worry about anything else."

Scoring runs has been a major challenge for the Brewers since the all-star break, allowing the Chicago Cubs to blow by them into first place in the National League Central. They have scored three or fewer runs in 14 of 19 games over that stretch, resulting in a 7-12 record.

But, on this day, the pitchers made two runs stand up. Garza, who came off the disabled list after recovering from a lower leg strain, allowed only one run over 5 2/3 innings, and relievers Jacob Barnes, Anthony Swarzak and Corey Knebel (20th save) took over from there.

"That's our job," said Garza, who allowed only four hits. "Our job is to keep runs off the board. We're kind of in an offensive rut right now but that's OK. The starters are doing the job and our bullpen is shored up with two new arms. As soon as the offense clicks, we'll be all right."

BOX SCORE:Brewers 2, Cardinals 1

RELATED:Woodruff to start Friday; Bandy heads to DL

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The Brewers have been greatly reliant on home runs to score this season and Jesús Aguilar came through again with a blast off Cardinals starter Michael Wacha in the third inning. But St. Louis came back to tie the score on Greg Garcia's RBI single off Garza in the fifth. 

The Brewers then did something they have struggled to do of late -- string together two-out hits. Travis Shaw, Hernán Pérez and Broxton collected consecutive singles off reliever Brett Cecil to deliver the run that proved decisive. 

That made Broxton plus-two for the day because he also stole a run in the second when he leaped against the wall in right-center to deny José Martinez of a home run.

"That was huge," Garza said. "I thought it was gone, as soon as he hit it. Broxton made a great catch. He's been doing that all year. It was a huge momentum play for us."

With one down in the St. Louis eighth, Kolten Wong sent a drive to right-center that caused Swarzak’s shoulders to slump. The ball did not go out, however, banging high off the wall for a double.

Given that reprieve, Swarzak retired Tommy Pham on a grounder to short and Matt Carpenter on a fly to right, and the Brewers kept their 2-1 lead. 

Closer Corey Knebel took care of the ninth, working around a one-out single by Yadier Molina and two-out walk to Stephen Piscotty to record his 20th save. Knebel, who threw 29 pitches, caught Garcia looking at a 3-2 curveball to end the game. 

"All four (pitchers) had to make pitches, and they did," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "They all did a nice job. I thought Matt was very efficient through the first four innings.

"For me, it's not so much winning against the Cardinals. It's just winning. It's a big time of year. Every team, it's a big series for us. It was a hard-fought game and hard-fought series."

BEHIND THE BOX SCORE

* Eric Thames started in the leadoff spot for the first time in the majors. He got one at-bat in that spot in 2011 with Toronto but did not start that game.

“The only time I started in the leadoff spot was in 2013 with (Class AAA) Tacoma in Sacramento,” Thames said.

Counsell had alternated Jonathan Villar and Eric Sogard in the top spot, but neither was swinging the bat well, so he went with Thames, who had a .371 on-base percentage.

“I’ve thought about Thames a bunch in the leadoff spot,” Counsell said. “It just hadn’t happened yet. But, with Villar and Sogard not in there, and facing a right-handed pitcher, I thought it made some sense. He’s done a nice job getting on base against right-handed pitchers (.393 OBP).”

Alas, the move didn't pay off. Thames went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts.

* Right-hander Wily Peralta and outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis cleared waivers and were assigned outright to Class AAA Colorado Springs. Both were designated for assignment recently and cleared waivers. Peralta still has two months left on his $4.28 million salary.

STAT SHEET

* Aguilar ranks third in the majors with 13 pinch hits, including his two-run homer Wednesday night. Aguilar is batting .302 with two homers and eight RBI off the bench.

* The Brewers are 15-15 in one-run games.

TAKEAWAY

The Brewers' offense remains stuck in neutral, as it has been since the all-star break. The pitchers made two runs hold up, but if the runs don't start coming soon the Brewers will fall out of the playoff race. This cannot continue.

RECORD

This year: 57-53 (31-27 home; 26-26 away)

Last year: 49-61

ATTENDANCE

Thursday: 40,170

2017 total: 1,771,972 (30,551 avg.)

Last year: 1,683,102 (29,019 avg.)

NEXT GAME

Friday: Brewers at Rays, 6:10 p.m. Milwaukee RHP Brandon Woodruff (MLB debut) vs. Tampa Bay RHP Jake Faria (5-1, 2.93). TV: FS Wisconsin. Radio: AM-620.