Parra Stellar but Relievers Blow Game

Brewers Drop Two of Three to Cardinals

Manny Parra returned to the Brewers rotation and may have pitched the best game of his career in seven shutout innings, however the Brewers' bullpen dropped a five spot in the eighth, all before recording one out, to hand that game to the Cardinals, 5-1.

I’m going to make this short and as sweet as I can. Manny Parra pissed excellence tonight. Carlos Villanueva, Mitch Stetter and Todd Coffey pissed on themselves.

A complete game by Joel Pineiro for St. Louis left all but Prince Fielder baffled at the plate fielding only three hits and batting only one over the minimum.

For Parra, it’s the first time this season he’s gone seven innings. It’s also the first time he has not allowed a run. Manny dropped his ERA from 7.52 to 6.58. He threw 110 pitches giving up only three hits and one walk while scattering seven strikeouts.

The game was scoreless until the fifth inning when Fielder hit a double and then made his way to third before Cameron slapped a single bringing Fielder in. Those were two of the Brewers three hits. They would not score another run.

After Parra was pulled, Villanueva took over to start the eighth and immediately gave up a single to Skip Schumaker and then a RBI triple to Brendan Ryan. At that point Mitch Stetter came in and walked Jason LaRue, placing runners at the corners. Todd Coffey took over next and gave up a double to Albert Pujols scoring Ryan and moving LaRue to third. Ryan Ludwick then homered them both home, a three-run home run and still no outs. In fact, Rick Ankiel then singled and it wasn’t until he was caught stealing second that the Crew recorded the first out. Yadier Molina struck out looking and Jarrett Hoffpauir flew out to end the inning.

At that point the Brewers could not get anything else going and the score was final. Parra and his brilliant performance will have to try again after the break.