ST. LOUIS — William Contreras drove in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning and finished with two RBIs as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the St. Louis Cardinals 2-1 on Friday night.
“He earned his money tonight,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said of Contreras. “He’s going to earn a lot more, I promise you.”
Contreras hit a two-out single off Ryan Helsley (1-2) in the 10th inning that scored automatic runner Blake Perkins, breaking a 1-all tie. Hoby Milner shut down the middle of the Cardinals’ order in the bottom of the 10th to earn his first career save in 242 appearances.
“I’m thankful to be where I’m at and the opportunity to get the opportunity today to get that save,” Milner said. “And I’m just glad that we won the game.”
Milwaukee won its second straight game. St. Louis lost for the fourth time in six games and has failed to score more than three runs in a game during that span.
“We’re fighting through it,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “We’ve got to be able to score more runs, there’s no secret to that, and another game where we didn’t.”
PHOTOS: William Contreras drives in 2 runs for Brewers in a 2-1 win over Cardinals in 10 innings
The Cardinals erased a 1-0 deficit with a two-out rally in the bottom of the ninth. Masyn Winn walked and Alec Burleson hit a single that drove Milwaukee reliver Trevor Megill from the game. Joel Payamps (1-1) hit Iván Herrera with a pitch to load the bases before Brendan Donovan drew a walk that tied the game at 1.
Brewers starter Freddy Peralta pitched six scoreless innings, struck out seven, walked two and allowed four hits.
Opposing batters are hitting .169 (14 for 83) against Peralta through his first four starts this season. Only San Diego’s Dylan Cease (.130) has a better mark in the National League.
Contreras gave the Brewers a 1-0 lead in the third with an RBI double that scored Blake Perkins, who reached on a double. The Brewers’ catcher has hits in 13 of his last 14 games.
“We have a very good relationship outside of the game,” Peralta said of his chemistry with Contreras. “And then you know when the time comes, we just work together.”
Cardinals starter Kyle Gibson allowed one run on three hits in six innings. The 36-year-old right-hander has gone at least six innings in all four of his starts this season.
“I can’t say enough about the defense, they played well, turned a timely double play and Willson (Contreras) was great back there,” Gibson said. “We were on the same page and I like how he challenges me at times. He gets me thinking outside of the box.”
The Cardinals’ Willson Contreras extended his hitting streak to a career-high 12 games with a single in the second inning. He tried to score from second after Jordan Walker struck out swinging on a passed ball, but was thrown out by his brother, William, on a throw to Peralta who was knocked down in a heavy collision at the plate.
“He hit me really, really hard,” Peralta said. “I was scared, but then like, five seconds later, I knew that I was able to move my legs.”
The Cardinals held a moment of silence and a video tribute before the game in honor of former Hall of Fame manager Whitey Herzog, who died on Tuesday at 92.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Brewers: Reinstated RHP Trevor Megill from the 7-day concussion list. … Placed 1B Jake Bauers on the bereavement list. … Recalled INF Andruw Monasterio from Triple-A Nashville.
Cardinals: INF Matt Carpenter (right oblique strain) took batting practice for the first time since being placed on the injured list on April 2. … OF Dylan Carlson (left shoulder AC sprain) took swings from the left side and was able to play catch and do defensive work.
UP NEXT
RHP Miles Mikolas (1-2, 5.82 ERA) will start for the Cardinals against LHP DL Hall (0-1, 7.11 ERA) and the Brewers on Saturday. With a win, Mikolas would join Lance Lynn (11) and Kyle Hendricks (10) as the lone active pitchers with 10-plus wins against Milwaukee. Hall is seeking his first quality start, although the Brewers are 2-1 in his starts.
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