Cardinals shut out 6-0 by Brewers on June 13, 2025. Sonny Gray struggles while Willson Contreras is thrown out by his brother in a key division loss.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a night of frustration and family feuds in Milwaukee. The St. Louis Cardinals, boasting one of the league's most potent offenses on paper, were utterly silenced, dropping the series opener 6-0 to the Brewers. In a game where ace Sonny Gray looked mortal and the bats went cold, the most memorable moment was a play that perfectly encapsulated the Cards' tough luck: Willson Contreras being gunned down on the basepaths by his own brother.
The Cardinals' offense ranks 4th in MLB with a .257 batting average and 3rd in doubles with 121, yet they were held to just two hits in a shutout loss.
Sonny Gray has been the rock of this rotation, the steady hand the Cardinals have desperately needed. That's what made Friday's start so jarring. The Brewers tagged him for six earned runs in just over four innings, a rare implosion for the veteran. Every pitcher has a bad day, but when it's your ace against a division leader, it stings a little more. The loss puts the Cardinals six games back in the NL Central, a deficit that feels larger with every missed opportunity.
The offense provided zero support. A lineup that entered the night near the top of the league in batting average and doubles managed just two hits, one from Nolan Arenado and one from Willson Contreras. The night's most viral moment came in the seventh when Willson was thrown out trying to steal second by his younger brother, Brewers catcher William Contreras. While a fun moment for the Contreras family scrapbook, it was another rally killer for a team that couldn't buy a break.
The front office is clearly trying to find a combination that works. Ahead of the game, the team called up reliever Andre Granillo and outfielder Michael Siani from Triple-A, designating Connor Vilade for assignment. With Jordan Walker still a few days away from returning from his rehab assignment, these moves are a clear attempt to inject some new energy into the roster. Siani provides speed and defense, while Granillo adds a fresh arm to the bullpen, but it remains to be seen if they can be the spark this club needs.
If the big-league club's performance left you wanting more, a look at the farm system might provide some solace. Top prospects are kicking off their seasons, with Quinn Mathews making his second start in Memphis and Tekoah Roby returning from injury in Springfield. Most excitingly, 2024 first-round pick JJ Wetherholt made his highly anticipated debut at Double-A, skipping High-A entirely. His rapid ascent, along with the development of players like Chase Davis and Leo Bernal, offers a bright glimpse into the Cardinals' future, even on a tough night.
One game doesn't define a season, but this one felt heavy. The Cardinals have to flush this performance and come back tomorrow with a renewed approach at the plate. Facing a division rival, losing ground is the last thing they can afford. The pressure is on to salvage this series and prove that Friday's offensive disappearing act was an anomaly, not the new norm.
