ST. LOUIS – In a battle between the top Trade Deadline acquisitions between the two of the top three 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.

“Frankie was great. He attacked the zone and strike one was big,” manager Pat Murphy said. “He’s turned it up a notch, and it’s kind of cool when he gets it. It’s nice having his experience.”

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

Williams recorded his fifth save in five tries since returning from the injured list, striking out Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Gorman with the bases loaded in the ninth to preserve the victory. Following a single by Brendan Donovan and a double by Nolan Arenado, Murphy opted to walk Lars Nootbaar intentionally to set up an opportunity for the two-time National League Trevor Hoffman Reliever of the Year.

"Some would've said I'm crazy, you know?” joked Murphy. “This time it worked. I don't plan on ever walking a person intentionally in front of Goldy ever again, but this time it worked. I think we escaped, and it's maybe only with Devin, the way he's throwing the ball.”

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.

“I’m trying to learn as much as I can,” Montas said of his time with his new team. “These guys over here, they’re pretty amazing. They have a pretty good knowledge of what they’re doing out there. I’m just trying to get as much information as I can to try to be on the next level that they are.”

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.

“Everything was working for [Montas] today,” Contreras said through team interpreter Daniel de Mondesert. “He was aggressive. He was attacking the zone. I think a little bit late there, he maybe got a little bit tired, and maybe got away from that a little bit. But we had a conversation in the dugout just to keep on doing what he’s doing all game, stay aggressive, keep attacking the zone, and it was all working for him.”

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 August 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.

“Frankie’s interested,” Murphy said. “He’s not just a veteran coming over saying I’m gonna do what I’ve gotta do. Frankie’s interested in getting with the team and feeling what the team’s doing. He’s done a great job of transitioning and understanding what we’re all about.”