ST. LOUIS - The Cardinals’ decision to hold Jack Flaherty back for a day so he could start Friday night’s opener in a key series against the Brewers turned out to be a very good move.
Flaherty allowed only three hits over six scoreless innings as the Cardinals moved just a half-game back of the Brewers in the wild-card race with the win at Busch Stadium.
It was the third win in his last three starts for Flaherty, in which he has allowed a combined two runs over 19 innings. In three starts against the Brewers this season, Flaherty has allowed just two runs in 18 innings, recording 29 strikeouts.
The Cardinals led 3-0 when Flaherty came out of the game but the Brewers cut the lead to 3-2 against Jordan Hicks in the eighth. A two-run double by Kolten Wong restored the three-run lead in the bottom of the inning.
The win improved the Cardinals’ record to 9-1 in their last 10 games.
Here is how the game broke down:
At the plate: Marcell Ozuna gave Flaherty an early lead with a two-run single in the first inning, following a walk to Yadier Molina and a double by Jose Martinez … Jedd Gyokro homered leading off the fourth to increase the Cardinals’ lead to 3-0. It was Gyorko’s 10th homer of the season and gave the Cardinals at least one home run in their last 10 games, their longest streak of the season …The Cardinals loaded the bases in the eighth on a hit by Martinez, a hit batter and a walk before Wong’s two-run double. Wong is now 8-of-17 in his last five games.
On the mound: Flaherty walked three and struck out seven as he lowered his ERA to 3.05, the second lowest among rookie starters in the NL. He now has 134 strikeouts in 109 innings this season … Dakota Hudson pitched around a leadoff infield single in the seventh but Hicks ran into trouble in the eighth, giving up a bases-loaded two-run single to Jesus Aguilar before getting the final two outs to strand two runners … Bud Norris worked the ninth, earning his 24th save.
Key stat: Matt Carpenter is hitless in 12 at-bats in his last four games but has kept his on-base streak alive by drawing five walks, including an intentional walk In the seventh inning on Friday night that extended his streak of reaching base to 35 consecutive games.
Worth noting: Carlos Martinez made his first of two scheduled rehab appearances for Double A Springfield on Friday night. He pitched two innings and gave up just one hit, a solo home run, during his 28 pitch, 20 strike outing. He also is scheduled to pitch on Sunday … Michael Wacha will report to Palm Beach to begin a rehab program, as a starter, this weekend while Adam Wainwright, who pitched twice this week at Palm Beach, is going to start on Sunday in Springfield … Yairo Munoz Is also expected to go to Springfield on Saturday for a two-game rehab, then will be evaluated by the Cardinals’ medical staff on Monday and could be activated from the disabled list on Tuesday … Former Cardinals outfielders Vince Coleman and Ray Lankford and pitcher Harry Brecheen will be inducted into the Cardinals’ Hall of Fame on Saturday … Third base prospect Elehuris Montero, now playing for Palm Beach, was named Friday as the Most Valuable Player in the Midwest League this season. The 19-year-old Montero spent most of the year playing in Peoria.
Looking ahead: Miles Mikolas will get the start on Saturday night in the second game of the series.
Follow Rob Rains on Twitter @RobRains
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