Contreras Delivers Clutch Hit, Brewers Edge Cards in Extras

ST. LOUIS - In a tense battle between division rivals, it was William Contreras who delivered the decisive blow. The Milwaukee Brewers catcher slapped a two-out, go-ahead single in the 10th inning to drive in the automatic runner and propel his team to a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night.

Contreras’ clutch hit off Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley broke a 1-1 deadlock and allowed the Brewers to claim the opening game of the series at Busch Stadium. Reliever Hoby Milner closed it out in the bottom of the 10th for his first career save.

“He earned his money tonight,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said of Contreras’ heroics. “He’s going to earn a lot more, I promise you.”

The game was a pitchers’ duel from the outset. Milwaukee starter Freddy Peralta was outstanding, firing six scoreless innings while allowing just four hits and two walks with seven strikeouts. Cardinals righty Kyle Gibson matched him pitch-for-pitch, conceding just one run on three hits over six frames.

Contreras provided that lone run against Gibson in the third inning by lacing an RBI double that scored Blake Perkins, who had led off the frame with a double of his own.

The 1-0 lead held until the ninth, when the Cardinals mounted a gritty two-out rally against Milwaukee’s bullpen to extend the game. Masyn Winn walked and Alec Burleson singled to chase reliever Trevor Megill. Joel Payamps then hit Iván Herrera with a pitch to load the bases before issuing a bases-loaded walk to Brendan Donovan that forced in the tying run.

However, the Brewers promptly regained the advantage in the 10th. After Milwaukee failed to score the automatic runner from second in the top half, Contreras dug in against Helsley with two outs and poked an opposite-field single to plate Blake Perkins and make it 2-1.

“I’m thankful to be where I’m at and the opportunity to get the opportunity today to get that save,” said Milner after securing the final three outs. “And I’m just glad that we won the game.”

The hard-luck losing pitcher was Helsley, who yielded the deciding run in the 10th after escaping a bases-loaded jam in the ninth.

“We’re fighting through it,” said Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol. “We’ve got to be able to score more runs, there’s no secret to that, and another game where we didn’t.”

The NL Central showdown continues Saturday night as Miles Mikolas (1-2, 5.82 ERA) takes the mound for St. Louis against DL Hall (0-1, 7.11 ERA) and the Brewers.

Milwaukee improved to 11-5 on the season while sending the Cardinals to 7-10. Contreras, who extended his hitting streak to 13 games, finished 2-for-4 to pace the Brewers offense.