Brewers get to Sonny Gray early as Cardinals fall in Milwaukee, 7-1

MILWAUKEE — The hits just kept coming. Not those hits. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, those hits are still increasingly elusive at key moments capable of swinging a game. The hits that have been abundant are the ones seemingly aimed at the Cardinals' hopes for contending this season.

In the same week the Cardinals lost their best-performing offensive player Willson Contreras to an injury that will likely keep him out at least a couple of months, the one previously invincible element of their roster — ace pitcher Sonny Gray — faltered on Thursday night.

Gray gave up a season-high six runs in five innings in a 7-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field in the first game of their four-game series.

The Cardinals (15-22) have lost five games in a row and fell a season-worst seven games below .500. The National League Central-leading Brewers (22-15) now have a six game win streak against the Cardinals.

Gray (4-2) allowed three home runs, plus a walk, a hit batter and a wild pitch in five innings. He also struck out six.

Outfielder Michael Siani went 2 for 4, and Lars Nootbaar’s solo home run in the third inning provided all of the scoring the Cardinals could muster. They were held to six hits and went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position.

Sonny skies turned Gray

Gray gave up two earned runs in the previous five starts of his Cardinals career, but the tables turned on him quickly on Thursday night. The veteran right-hander hadn’t allowed a run in the first four innings of any start this season, but the Brewers scored three in the first inning. They scored runs in three of the first four innings.

Gray had allowed just one home run in 23 2/3 innings this season, but the Brewers smacked three in the first four innings.

The first inning got away from Gray after he gave up a pair of one-out singles to William Contreras and Christian Yelich. The next batter, Willy Adames, hit a ground ball to third baseman Nolan Arenado. In an effort to get an inning-ending double play, Arenado tried to tag Contreras as he ran by, then throw to first base for the force out. Arenado missed the tag when Contreras threw on the brakes, but he got the runner at first base.

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