MILWAUKEE _ Christian Yelich, the reigning National League Most Valuable player, had hit his fourth homer in four games for the Milwaukee Brewers in the first inning on Sunday. So the Cardinals walked him the next three times.
But, with Milwaukee runners at first and third base with nobody out in a one-run game in the ninth, there wasn't much place to put Yelich unless manager Mike Shildt wanted to walk the lead run into scoring position. So the left-handed-hitting Yelich plugged the left-center-field gap for a two-run double off Jordan Hicks, giving the Brewers a 5-4 win over the Cardinals, who had led by three runs entering the seventh.
Yelich was a nuisance the whole series, going six for 12 with a .667 on-base percentage and 1.583 slugging mark.
"I'd say nuisance is being kind," Shildt said. "We've got to figure out a way to combat what he's doing because he's more than a thorn in our side."
Counting the end of last season, Yelich has hit safely in 10 consecutive games against the Cardinals with seven homers and 18 RBIs.
Paul DeJong, Matt Carpenter and Paul Goldschmidt all homered for the Cardinals, who struck out 15 times otherwise. Michael Wacha fanned seven in six strong innings for the Cardinals, who lost three out of four in the season-opening series here.
"Wacha was fantastic," Shildt said. "You couldn't ask for a better pitching performance out of Michael."
The Brewers, trailing 4-1, rallied for two runs in the seventh. One scored on Travis Shaw's popup, which dropped to the side of third baseman Carpenter, who, with the shift, was lined up at the shortstop position. Carpenter, turning his back, retreated into the outfield to try to make the catch and then couldn't find the ball again.
"It was an awkward spot," Shildt said. "You can't defend the whole field. (Shaw) found some grass. He kind of put it where we weren't."
The Cardinals' Kolten Wong, as he stole second base in the top of the ninth, was hit in the back of the neck by catcher Yasmani Grandal's throw on which second baseman Mike Moustakas whiffed. But Wong stayed in the game.
