Lynn outduels debuting Cravy, Crew shut out
ST. LOUIS -- A day after the Brewers scored the narrowest of victories over the Cardinals, it was the home team's turn.
Lance Lynn worked 7 2/3 scoreless innings for a 1-0 win over the Brewers and 25-year-old Tyler Cravy , who pitched a gem of his own in his Major League debut on Tuesday night at Busch Stadium. Just like the Brewers on Monday, the Cardinals scored an early run with a two-out hit (Mark Reynolds' second-inning single). Just like the Brewers on Monday, the Cardinals overcame seven solid innings from the opposing starter. And just like the Brewers on Monday, the Cardinals stranded the tying runner in scoring position to end the game.
"It was the same game," said Brewers manager Craig Counsell, referring to his own club's 1-0 win the night before. "Almost to the ninth inning, it was the same game. I feel the same way [as Cardinals manager Mike Matheny felt Monday]. Our guy doesn't deserve a loss pitching like that."
Video: MIL@STL: Reynolds singles put Cardinals ahead, 1-0
Cravy surrendered that one run on four hits in seven innings, with two walks and six strikeouts on only 87 pitches. Lynn was better, blanking the Brewers before yielding to reliever Kevin Siegrist with a runner aboard in the eighth inning, having scattered five hits and one walk with five strikeouts. Siegrist retired Gerardo Parra to end that threat, and Trevor Rosenthal pitched around two hits in the ninth for his 16th save.
"He was great, and really is finding a great feel for manipulating the fastball with cuts, sink and four-seam," Matheny said of Lynn. "Not many guys can get away with what he's doing. But he's locating it so well and taking off a little bit to put more run on and he's doing a real nice job."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Saving it: Rosenthal surrendered a pair of singles in the ninth inning that gave the Brewers runners at second and third with one out and Aramis Ramirez, 4-for-5 against the Cardinals' closer in previous at-bats, coming up. Ramirez hit a bouncer to third baseman Matt Carpenter and the Cardinals were able to turn a game-ending double play.
Video: MIL@STL: Rosenthal gets double play to notch big save
Streak stifled: Matt Holliday's National-League record streak of reaching base in 45 straight games to start a season ended when home-plate umpire Joe West ejected the Cardinals left fielder for arguing a called third strike in the seventh inning. Matheny emerged from the dugout to interject and was also ejected. More >
Video: MIL@STL: Holliday's on-base streak ends with ejection
"Unfortunately, it went as far as it did," Matheny said. "I didn't think he was going to get tossed. He was back towards the dugout. I thought he was getting his word in and next thing you know we lost him, and that was a shame."
Double the pleasure: Working from the stretch throughout his debut and topping out at 92 mph, Cravy kept Brewers defenders involved -- and kept his pitch count in check -- by inducing double plays in three straight innings from the third through the fifth.
"I expected to be a lot more nervous," Cravy said. "I think after the first inning I calmed down a little bit and just really tried to execute pitches and not overthrow."
Video: MIL@STL: Cravy on overcoming nerves in MLB debut
Close, but no catch: It could have been a terrific play for the Brewers. It also could have been a total disaster. Instead, it was neither after three defenders converged on Carpenter's foul pop on the third base side in the fourth inning. Shortstop Jean Segura and third baseman Ramirez each tumbled into the stands, while left fielder Parra landed in the dirt along the wall. None of those players were able to catch the baseball, but all three escaped a potentially dangerous moment unscathed.
Video: MIL@STL: Three Brewers collide on attempted foul grab
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Cravy's outing was the longest for a Brewers pitcher in his Major League debut since Steve Woodard outdueled Roger Clemens and the Blue Jays on July 28, 1997 at County Stadium. Woodard allowed only one hit and one walk that day with 12 strikeouts, and the Brewers won, 1-0, on Jeromy Burnitz's fourth-inning single off Clemens.
WHAT'S NEXT
Brewers: Jimmy Nelson will make his fourth career appearance and third start against the Cardinals on Wednesday at 12:45 p.m. CT, still seeking his first win against Milwaukee's division rival. In two starts against St. Louis last season, Nelson surrendered 11 earned runs in 9 2/3 innings.
Cardinals: John Lackey will take the mound to cap a nine-game Cardinals homestand when the teams meet in Wednesday's 12:45 p.m. CT series finale. The veteran righty threw seven scoreless innings the last time he faced the Brewers and is coming off of seven scoreless innings in his last outing.
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