MILWAUKEE • Their rotation weakened by serious injury to a leading player and their hold on a winning record starting to loosen, the Cardinals turned to the pitcher they’ve expected to lead them all season for what could have been a statement game against a rival.
In one of the most lackluster and outright sloppy games of the season, Carlos Martinez lost his grip — literally — early in the game and the hard-charging Brewers humbled the visiting Cardinals with an 11-3 victory at Miller Park that wasn’t as close as that score indicated. Marcell Ozuna leaped and reached over the wall for a ball that hit off the bottom of it.