12-21-2019, 06:18 AM
MILWAUKEE -- St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright knew how tough it was for the Milwaukee Brewers to play Saturday after finding out that shortstop Jean Seguras 9-month-old son had died. But Wainwright had to push those thoughts aside as he pitched seven strong innings to lead the Cardinals to a 10-2 win over Milwaukee for a tie atop the NL Central. The Brewers lost their seventh in a row. Segura left the team and travelled home to the Dominican Republic, a day after his 9-month-old son died. The Brewers observed a moment of silence for Janniel Segura, and the clubhouse was closed before the game. The 24-year-old shortstop was put on the bereavement list when he learned after the Brewers 7-6 loss to St. Louis on Friday night that his son had died. Manager Ron Roenicke said the boy had been ill. "When something like that happens, you become a family," Wainwright said. "Baseball as a whole becomes a family. Theres bigger things than baseball. I understand that hes going through something that I hope I never, never have to go through. So our hearts and prayers go out to him." Cardinals manager Mike Matheny was catcher for the Cardinals when St. Louis pitcher Darryl Kile died of a heart problem on June 22, 2002. "The extended family in (Milwaukees) clubhouse is hurting right along with him," he said. "You cant help but take a step back and just prioritize life. Prioritize just how fragile it is. It gives us perspective." "When that happened (Kiles death), we had a lot of guys having a bunch of conversations you typically wouldnt have inside a clubhouse," Matheny said. Wainwright (12-4) gave up two runs and five hits. He has allowed just four earned runs in his last six starts. Wainwright helped himself with an RBI single and tied Cincinnatis Alfredo Simon and the Yankees Masahiro Tanaka for the most wins in the majors. St. Louis trailed Milwaukee by 6 1/2 games on July 1, but Wainwright knows how quickly a teams fortune can change in a week. In fact, he said that a week ago. "My quote was In a week from now, we could be doing a completely different kind of interview," he said. "It could be what has turned the season around for. And, thats whats happened. This game is a funny game of ups and downs. The teams that have the most ups and the least amount of downs end up winning the whole thing." Tony Cruz drove in a career-high three runs and Kolten Wong homered for the Cardinals. "Its nice to be able to make a little ground," Matheny said. "It just comes back to playing each game the right way." For the Brewers, it was a most difficult day. "I think everybody in the clubhouse was affected quite a bit," manager Ron Roenicke said. "I dont want to make excuses. We knew that we still have a game to play and a job to do, but we did not play well today." The Brewers have lost 11 of 12. They had held sole possession of first place since April 9. Frustrated Brewers star Carlos Gomez struck out swinging in the fifth inning and tried three times without success to break the bat over his leg. He slammed his helmet and tore up his batting gloves. Jimmy Nelson (1-1) went 4 1/3 innings, giving up eight runs and eight hits. He was recalled from Triple-A Nashville on Thursday to make his first start since replacing ineffective Marco Estrada in the rotation. St. Louis took a 3-0 lead in the first inning. A two-out error by second baseman Scooter Gennett on a grounder set up Cruzs two-run single. Wong hit a two-run homer in the second. It was his fifth home run in the last six games since coming back from the disabled list. Cruz doubled home a run in the third. NOTES: Milwaukee recalled INF Elian Herrera from Triple-A Nashville to replace Segura on the roster. ... The Brewers will start RHP Wily Peralta (9-6) in the series finale Sunday against Carlos Martinez (2-3). Charlotte Hornets Store . You can watch all the action on TSN2 beginning at 7pm et/4pm pt. Pineda won his second straight start last Wednesday against Chicago, as he held the Cubs to just four hits over six scoreless innings to run his record to 2-0, while lowering his ERA to 1. Custom Charlotte Hornets Jerseys . Unfortunately for the Cleveland Cavaliers, James Harden was in the building. https://www.cheaphornets.com/ . The club says Fridays surgery was successful. Holiday, a former Eastern Conference All-Star acquired from Philadelphia last summer, has not played because of the shin injury since Jan. Fake Hornets Jerseys . Louis Cardinals placed outfielder Allen Craig on the 15-day disabled list with a right knee contusion on Sunday. Caleb Martin Jersey . And former Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson certainly knows his pain. "Its pretty hard to coach there without allowing some of these things to kind of affect you," Wilson told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun in his ESPN. CONCORD, N.C. -- About the only one not worried about Jimmie Johnsons victory drought this season was the Sprint Cup defending champion. After his dominating show this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Johnson gave his competitors plenty to worry about. Johnson reached Victory Lane for the first time this season at the Coca-Cola 600, finishing off a dominating week at a track many have called "Jimmies House." "Its great to win, but believe me, and I promise you, all the hype and all the concern and worry, that was elsewhere. That wasnt in my head," Johnson said. Now, Johnson can think about his record-breaking seventh Cup win at Charlotte, about his 13th straight NASCAR season with a victory or about his fourth 600 victory to trail only Darrell Waltrips five in the series longest race. And maybe throw a scare into opponents that Johnsons run at top isnt over yet. "They know we are awake," Johnson said. "Hopefully, the 48 is heading that way and we can give other people something to think about." This time, Johnson swept past Matt Kenseth nine laps from the end and was never pressured after that. Johnson earned the pole Thursday night, was strong at practice Saturday and led 165 of 400 laps Sunday. Kevin Harvick, who led 100 laps, was second. Kenseth finished third with Carl Edwards fourth. Jamie McMurray, the All-Star race winner last weekend at the track, was fifth. Kurt Buschs attempt at motorsports history ended with 129 laps to go when he blew an engine. Busch finished sixth in the Indianapolis 500, but could not complete the 600 and become just the second racer ever -- Tony Stewart was the first -- to navigate all 1,100 miles on auto racings biggest weekend. Harvick had won two of the past three 600s and led 100 laps this time. He fell back in the latter stages as he dealt with car problems and could not get back to the front. "We needed a 700-mile race to get back to where we needed to be," Harvick said. Brad Keselowski held the lead and appeared to have out-pitted Johnsons No. 48 group with a final stop 55 laps from the end. But a vibration in the Penske machine sent Keselowski back to the pits and a lap down. Much of the pre-race attention was centred on whether Busch or points leader Jeff Gordon would make to the starting line. Busch because of his 850-mile trek South from Indiana and Gordonn because of back spasms that cropped up Thursday after qualifying and were still severe enough Saturday for him to leave the track early after just a few laps of practice.dddddddddddd But both were there when the green flag dropped, although Buschs arrival was far more dramatic with the helicopter circling the track and landing on the infield close to the start-finish line about an hour before the race began. He received loud cheers and plenty of high-fives from fans and took a seat on the bench where driver introductions were made. As colleagues and competitors made their way up the steps, most made sure to chat up Busch or shake his hand on a job well done. Busch had a bit of luck to stay on the lead lap, twice earning a lucky dog bid after going a lap down to return among the leaders. He eventually reached the top 10 and was running 16th when smoke started pouring out of his Stewart-Haas Chevrolet and sent him behind the wall and to a 40th-place finish. "Kind of a shame, kind of symbolizes how its been for the Haas Automation team," Busch said. "We gave it our all with the way we were clawing our way up there." The 42-year-old Gordon, a four-time series champion, has dealt with back problems before and his No. 24 team had driver Regan Smith on standby if Gordon couldnt go. But if Gordons back bothered him during the race, he didnt show it with his performance. He spent much of the night in the top 10 and was out front until Kenseth passed him on a restart 16 laps from the end. Gordon finished seventh, his ninth top-10 finish in 12 events this year. "It was tough. I was aching in there. There was one time when I got on the brakes into (Turn) 1 and it triggered something. I didnt know what was going to happen after that, but it settled down," Gordon said. Gordon maintained his points lead by 11 over second-place Kenseth. Danica Patrick had hopes of a strong showing after qualifying fourth, her best starting spot of the season. But like Busch, she too, was out early with a blown engine 119 laps from the end. She was 39th, her poorest finish in three 600s. Dale Earnhardt Jr. came into this one with seven top 10s in 11 races and the hope he could finally win a points race at his beloved home track. He led 13 laps late in the race before he had engine problems as well and faded from contention. He ended 19th. ' ' '