Montas holds Cards to just 1 hit over 7 dominant frames

ST. LOUIS – In a battle between the top Trade Deadline acquisitions between the top two teams in the NL Central on Tuesday, Frankie Montas came out victorious over Erick Fedde. Montas pitched his deepest into a game as a Brewer, and in an homage to legendary broadcaster Bob Uecker, allowed only one gosh darn hit in Milwaukee’s 3-2 victory over the Cardinals.

Montas tossed seven innings for the Brew Crew, striking out three and allowing only one walk to accompany that hit. He did not permit a single St. Louis baserunner to advance safely past first base.

Nick Mears, Jared Koenig and Devin Williams closed out the win for Milwaukee, which improved to a season-best 21 games above .500.

This week’s rivalry matchup at Busch Stadium may prove to be academic in the race for a division title, as the Brewers have now opened up a lead of a dozen games over the Cardinals and continue to hold the largest divisional cushion in the big leagues. Still, this week represents an opportunity to hold a rival’s feet to the fire, and Montas did not miss his chance.

He did not allow a baserunner until Alec Burleson hit a bounding single up the middle with one out in the fourth inning, and did not hand out a base on balls until Victor Scott II walked with one out in the sixth. Only eight of the 21 outs recorded by Montas left the infield.

William Contreras supplied three hits, including an RBI double in the top of the eighth inning that would prove to be the final margin of victory. Contreras’ drive reached the base of the wall in center field over a leaping Scott, allowing Garrett Mitchell to race around from first with the third, and ultimately game-winning, Brewers run.

Milwaukee got on the board in the second with an RBI single from Sal Frelick, which followed walks to Willy Adames and Tyler Black. Frelick added a triple in the fifth and then scored on a bouncing ball punched through the drawn-in infield by Joey Ortiz.

With relatively little by way of run support, Montas flashed some of the efficiency that was missing since arriving in a deal from the Reds. He pitched into the sixth in only one of his first three starts with the Brew Crew, and needed 102 pitches through five innings in his most recent start against the Dodgers on Aug. 14.

On Tuesday, with a listless St. Louis offense offering little resistance, Montas was as efficient as he was effective, needing only 61 pitches in his first five innings before ultimately finishing with 89. It was the third time this season that Montas pitched through the seventh, and the second time he did so while allowing only one hit and no runs. He matched that feat for the Reds in Colorado on June 4.