(
)
ST. LOUIS — Randy Wolf might be the definition of mediocrity for his career, but last night he was by far the closest thing either team has seen to Cy Young in this NLCS.
In a series that hardly has been dominated by starting pitching, the journeyman Wolf reached into his bag of junk and found a superb performance to resurrect the Brewers’ pennant hopes.
Wolf’s seven strong innings silenced a red tidal wave of 45,606 at Busch Stadium, leading the Brewers’ 4-2 victory over the Cardinals in Game 4 of the NLCS.
The good news for the Brewers — tied in the series — is they are assured the NLCS will return to Miller Park, where they compiled the best home record in the major leagues this season. First there is the matter of Game 5 tonight at Busch, with Milwaukee’s Zack Greinke facing Jaime Garcia.
Wolf, who was atrocious in his start against Arizona in Game 4 of the NLDS last week, allowed two earned runs on six hits over seven innings last night before Francisco Rodriguez, the former Mets closer, and John Axford took it to the finish line with a scoreless frame apiece.
“It was a big feeling just to be back out there again,” Wolf said, adding that he was an emotional wreck the day following the Arizona start. “I didn’t eat or shower. I don’t know if they call that depression, but it was tough to swallow.”
The Brewers did their offensive damage in the middle innings, chasing Kyle Lohse in the fifth, and snapped a string of eight straight postseason losses on the road, dating to the 1982 World Series.
“Wolfy, great job,” Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. “We needed it. He came through big, got us deep in the game.”
Jerry Hairston Jr. had the big offensive night for the Brewers, going 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI. The Cardinals’ bullpen had another strong game, allowing just one run over the final 4 2/3 innings after Lohse was chased.
Wolf got better as the game progressed. Matt Holliday doubled leading off the sixth, stoking the Cardinals’ comeback hopes, but Wolf retired the next three batters to keep his 4-2 lead intact. The Cardinals hadn’t threatened since the third, following Allen Craig’s solo home run. Holliday muscled a homer down the right-field line in the second for the Cardinals’ other run.
“He’s a strong guy,” Wolf said of Holliday. “It’s like trying to pitch to [Bears linebacker] Brian Urlacher. He’s a beast.”
In his previous start, against the Diamondbacks in the NLDS, Wolf lasted just three innings and allowed seven earned runs. He had a 9.00 ERA in three career postseason starts before last night.
The Brewers added to their 3-2 lead in the sixth after Hairston’s double put runners on second and third with nobody out. After lefty Arthur Rhodes entered, Ryan Theriot mishandled George Kottaras’ grounder, bringing home the run. Ryan Braun greeted reliever Mitchell Boggs with an RBI single in the fifth, putting the Brewers ahead for the first time since Game 1.
Lohse’s final line over 4 1/3 innings included three earned runs allowed on six hits and no walks. Lohse became the fourth straight Cardinals starter that didn’t pitch into the sixth inning. Chris Carpenter, who pitched five innings on Wednesday, is the only Cardinals starter that completed the fifth.
“This is the end of the season for these starters, too, so they are probably not as strong,” Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. “Go as far as you can, as long as you can, and we have plenty of bullpen help.”
