ST. LOUIS — Our Cards had not faced MIL since the ten times we did in the first 24 games. It was a Brew Crew overload. Our record stands at 5-5.

Monday night’s series opener was the first time to face the Brewer since late-April. What a night, guys! A near no-hitter and an exploding M!!

DAKOTA HUDSON ROCKED! SIXTH INNING: DAKOTA EXITS W/NO- HITTER THROUGH 6 2/3

DAKOTA ON MLB TONIGHT

Dakota didn’t even realize what was going on til he got into the dugout & heard it on a television broadcast. It was his first game with no-hit action since High School @ Sequatchie County (Tenn.)

“Guys were giving me hugs,” Hudson said. “Usually I get a handshake, so I’m like, ‘What’s going on?’”

Dakota Hudson has experienced ups and downs. His 12 wins leads all rookies in baseball. In a bounce-back game against KC last week, Dakota looked very good. Monday was another level of very good. Silenced a powerful Brew Crew lineup. 

“I think he was commanding his stuff a little bit better tonight,” Brewers infielder Mike Moustakas said. “He was throwing that sinker at 94, 95 [mph] — that was pretty dirty. And his secondary stuff was really good tonight, too.”

The homer- happy sliding Bernie Brewer would not have been pleased. Oh well. . .

Hudson and our ‘pen (Gallegos and Miller) combined for a one-hit game against a loaded Brewers lineup. Whoa! Christian Yelich didn’t even get a hit through. His past against our Cardinals is scary-good. Eight homers and 19 RBIs in 10 games was walked twice. Think it was those unintentional intentional walks? Maybe. 

THE NL CENTRAL DIVISION. As predicted at the beginning of the season, the Central Division has been a five-team dog fight up and down the division. Cards took over first place (for today). 

Our offense stepped up! Paul DeJong’s homer was hit into the Big Mac sign (you can see it stuck in the right side of left corner of the M).That’s some steppin’ up Paulie D! CLICK OUT HIS SHATTERING HOMER!

UP NEXT: 7-GAME HOMESTAND: VS MIL/3 (8/19/19), MONDAY VS MIL 6:45, TUESDAY VS MIL 6:45, WEDNESDAY VS MIL 6:45. VS/COL/4: (8/22/19), THURSDAY VS COL 6:45, FRIDAY VS COL 7:15, SATURDAY VS COL 6:15, SUNDAY VS COL 1:15. 7-GAME ROAD TRIP: @MIL/3 (8/26/19),THURSDAY OFF-DAY (8/29/19)  MORE? CLICK STL SCHEDULE

CINCINNATI –Woo hoo! We took a Colby Rasmus “Happy Flight!” to St. Louis (remember Colby came up with that clever name).  With Sunday’s W, we have won seven of our last nine. 16-5 against Central Division teams. Monday starts a 3-game set with the Brew Crew.

A hot one (90 degrees) & a nailbitter of a finale. Down to the last inning, last out & last pitch. “The Cardinals hang on for dear life!” exclaimed John Rooney on KMOX. We took Game 4  5-4 and split the four-game series with the Red Stockings (back in the day, it was their name). Our Cards didn’t do everything right, but we stayed tough through it all and came out winners.

Jack Flaherty threw the first pitch and continued to impress us on the mound.  He’s been so consistent as of late, it was just another day at the office for Jack. Once again, Flaherty worked quickly & efficiently through five innings and then sent our Cards back to the dugout. He was dominant! Glad he was able to take home the win. Makes him 7-6.

“The Reds are a scrappy team,” Flaherty said. “Especially this ballpark, anything can happen. [I’m] trying to keep the ball in the yard and keep them from putting some hits together. Any time you give up free passes, which we kind of did today, it’s not putting yourself in the best position. Today, lost my mechanics a little bit there, but all in all, keeping the ball in the yard and executing when you need to.”

The pitcher’s best friend (double play) was key in this win. Got out of both the sixth and seventh inning turning terrific & necessary DPs.

SEVENTH INNING: CATCH GANT AS HE ESCAPES HIS JAM! WHOA!

Offense was present & accounted for!  Homers by Goldy (Goldschmidt) – a 2-run homer and solo shot by Jimmy Baseball (Edman). Edman had a three-hit day & keeps earning that nickname, doesn’t he. We had that timely hitting that wins ball games! Nice going!

   Baby Birds had their day in the sun! Five of our eight hits Sunday came from rookies: Edman went 3-for-5 and Lane Thomas 2-for-4.

UP NEXT: 7-GAME HOMESTAND: VS MIL/3 (8/19/19), MONDAY VS MIL 6:45, TUESDAY VS MIL 6:45, WEDNESDAY VS MIL 6:45. VS/COL/4: (8/22/19), THURSDAY VS COL 6:45, FRIDAY VS COL 7:15, SATURDAY VS COL 6:15, SUNDAY VS COL 1:15. 7-GAME ROAD TRIP: @MIL/3 (8/26/19),THURSDAY OFF-DAY (8/29/19)  MORE? CLICK STL SCHEDULE