The euphoria of the Cardinals sweeping the woeful Philadelphia Phillies last weekend has been swept out like yesterday’s bathwater. When the Cardinals have had to beat the better teams in the National League, they haven’t, and that, surprisingly, includes the Milwaukee Brewers, previous fodder of the Cardinals.
After toppling the Brewers in the first game of the four-game series, extending their winning streak to four games, the Cardinals dropped the last three, including Thursday’s 6-4 setback at Busch Stadium.
That often points to bullpen deficiencies, but the bullpen had to work 17 2/3 innings in the four games with the Brewers while the starters made it through just 18 1/3, including only four by Michael Wacha on Thursday.