There’s a reason that you can’t just look at pitching matchups and decide how a playoff series is going to play out. Randy Wolf seemed like the weak link in the Brewers’ rotation before the NLCS started, but tonight he turned in the strongest start Milwaukee’s gotten the entire series and helped the Brewers level the NLCS with a 4-2 win.
Wolf tossed seven innings and held the Cardinals to two runs, keeping them scoreless after solo homers by Matt Holliday and Allen Craig in the second and third inning gave the Cards a 2-0 lead. He struck out six, walked one, and scattered the four non-homer hits he allowed. That left the door open for the Brewers offense to rally and they did just that, scoring twice in the fourth, once in the fifth, and once in the sixth. Francisco Rodriguez and John Axeford nailed down the lead with each throwing a scoreless inning of relief, and four games in the NLCS is notted at 2-2.
It goes without saying that avoiding a 3-1 deficit makes this a big win for the Brewers. No matter what, this series is headed back to Milwaukee and with Zack Greinke pitching in Game 5, the Brewers have a good shot at heading home with the series lead. After dropping Games 2 and 3, that’s about the best they can ask for.
For the Cardinals, the loss puts them in a tough spot. They certainly don’t want to head back to Milwaukee needing two wins, but Game 5 starter Jaime Garcia got roughed up pretty badly in Game 1. Of course, Randy Wolf got crushed by the Diamondbacks in the NLDS and he turned in a huge momentum-swinging start tonight. It’s cliche, but the most important start in the playoffs is the one you’re about to make.
The Brewers won a big game tonight, but there’s no question that the winner of Game 5 will be in control of the NLCS when it shifts back to Milwaukee. After Randy Wolf’s gem, it seems like anything could happen in Game 5.
