MILWAUKEE (AP) — Adam Wainwright pitched seven strong innings and the St. Louis Cardinals sent Milwaukee to its seventh straight loss, 10-2 on Saturday as the Brewers mourned the death of shortstop Jean Segura's young son.
Segura left the team and traveled home to the Dominican Republic, a day after his 9-month-old son died. The Brewers observed a moment of silence for Janniel Segura, and the clubhouse was closed before the game.
The 24-year-old shortstop was put on the bereavement list when he learned after the Brewers' 7-6 loss to St. Louis on Friday night that his son had died. Manager Ron Roenicke said the boy had been ill.
Tony Cruz drove in a career-high three runs and Kolten Wong homered as the Cardinals pulled into a first-place tie with Milwaukee in the NL Central. St. Louis trailed by 6 1/2 games on July 1.
The Brewers have lost 11 of 12. They had held sole possession of first place since April 9.
Frustrated Brewers star Carlos Gomez struck out swinging in the fifth inning and tried three times without success to break the bat over his leg. He slammed his helmet and tore up his batting gloves.
Wainwright (12-4) helped himself with an RBI single and tied Cincinnati's Alfredo Simon and the Yankees' Masahiro Tanaka for the most wins in the majors.
Wainwright gave up two runs and five hits. He has allowed just four earned runs in his last six starts.
Jimmy Nelson (1-1) went 4 1/3 innings, giving up eight runs and eight hits. He was recalled from Triple-A Nashville on Thursday to make his first start since replacing ineffective Marco Estrada in the rotation.
St. Louis took a 3-0 lead in the first inning. A two-out error by second baseman Scooter Gennett on a grounder set up Cruz's two-run single.
Wong hit a two-run homer in the second. It was his fifth home run in the last six games since coming back from the disabled list.
Cruz doubled home a run in the third.
NOTES: Milwaukee recalled INF Elian Herrera from Triple-A Nashville to replace Segura on the roster. ... The Brewers will start RHP Wily Peralta (9-6) in the series finale Sunday against Carlos Martinez (2-3).