Milwaukee Brewers: After Dropping 3 to St. Louis Cardinals, Time To Panic?

Coming into their three-game set against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night, the Milwaukee Brewers and rookie manager Ron Roenicke maintained a pleasing 10.5-game lead in the NL Centraland had absolutely zero intention on relenting in the weeks to come.  But, in the span of just three days, that sizable advantage was whittled down to 7.5 games.

While it may not officially be time to panic for Roenicke's crew, their now dwindling divisional lead may be enough evidence to suggest Milwaukee's historic run atop the division may have come a bit too soon.

Just what happened, you ask?

In their convincing sweep of the first-place Brewers, St. Louis managed to not only endow the only three-game series sweep of Milwaukee at Miller Park this season, but it was able to show up an impressive starting rotation to the tune of 18 runs in just 27 total innings.  First baseman Albert Pujols went yard three times, once for a grand slam in the series finale against Yovani Gallardo.

Roenicke had this to say to reporters following Thursday's 8-4 loss:

"

Hey, if we continue to play good baseball, we're going to be fine.  We have to go into Houston and play good baseball, and then we have a chance to go against the Cardinals again at their place.

"

Despite the untimely sweep coming from none other than Tony La Russa himself, the Brewers remain confident in their chance to make the postseason as NL Central champions.

These two clubs will do battle for the final time in St. Louis from September 5-7.

Alec Dopp is a Milwaukee Brewers featured columnist on Bleacher Report.  Follow him on Twitter: @alecdopp.