Contreras, who entered the day batting .361, lined a single to left field for the game’s first hit of the day. Two batters later, Hoskins crushed a 1-0 slider from Mikolas located about belt high and over the inner third of the plate. Mikolas dropped his head and slumped over almost immediately after Hoskins made contact. The homer, Hoskins’ fourth of the season, traveled an estimated 399 feet.

The Brewers threatened to score additional runs in the second inning after a leadoff double to left-center field by Gary Sanchez. The next batter, Blake Perkins, got hit by a pitch after he squared around and briefly showed a bunt attempt.

Mikolas worked out of the inning with help from his defense. Catcher Ivan Herrera fielded Brice Turang’s bunt and made a throw on the run to get the lead runner at third base for the first out of the inning. Mikolas then struck out Jackson Chourio swinging for the second out.

The Cardinals appeared to have gotten the third out of the inning when Sal Frelick grounded to Goldschmidt at first base, and Goldschmidt flipped to Mikolas covering first base. However, replay review overturned the out call and left the bases loaded.

Siani, playing center field, made a leaping catch on a ball driven to the wall by William Contreras to end the inning and keep the Brewers from scoring in the second inning.

No Hall pass from the Cardinals

The Cardinals scored four runs on five hits against Brewers starting pitcher D.L. Hall. The left-hander also walked five batters in 3 2/3 innings.

The Cardinals, who had scored three runs or fewer in 14 of their 20 games, scored three runs in the second inning against the left-hander Hall. They collected three hits in the inning, including a leadoff double by Lars Nootbaar, a bunt single by Siani that loaded the bases and an RBI single by Willson Contreras that deflected off the glove of Brewers second baseman Turang. Contreras extended his hitting streak to 13 consecutive games, and he has reached base in 25 straight games dating back to last season.

They also scored a run on a Donovan sacrifice fly and a Goldschmidt groundout.

The three-run inning gave the Cardinals a 4-2 advantage. They scored a run in the first via an Arenado two-out RBI double.

...continued

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