The St. Louis Cardinals dropped a gut-punch division game to the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday, September 26, 2026, falling 3-2 at American Family Field. Milwaukee erased a two-run deficit and walked off with the win in nine innings, powered by a Brice Turang two-run home run that proved to be the difference. With the loss, the Cardinals were outgunned in a tight NL Central clash that came down to one swing in a game that neither starter was able to finish strong.

Turang Home Run Caps Brewers Comeback

The Cardinals held a two-run lead at some point in this game, and they could not hold it. Turang was the villain, going 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI to power Milwaukee's comeback. Jackson Chourio added to the Brewers' effort going 2-for-4 with an RBI, giving Milwaukee enough production to get over the top. When Turang connected, it erased whatever cushion St. Louis had built and handed the Brewers a lead they would not relinquish.

Quinn Mathews Takes the Loss Despite Seven Strikeouts

Quinn Mathews was on the mound for the Cardinals and showed plenty of stuff — seven strikeouts across five innings is a legitimate outing. But he allowed five hits, two walks, and three earned runs, and ultimately was not able to keep Milwaukee's lineup off the board when it mattered. The Cardinals burned through their bullpen from there, with Gordon Graceffo covering two innings and striking out three while allowing three hits, and Cade Winquest finishing with a strikeout but also two walks in his lone inning of work. The Cardinals' pitching staff combined for 11 strikeouts on the night — a number that looks better than the result.

Brewers Bullpen Shut the Door After Dustin May's Early Exit

Milwaukee's starter Dustin May lasted just three innings, giving up two earned runs on three hits with five strikeouts. That is not a long outing, but the Brewers' bullpen covered the gap in commanding fashion. Kyle Harrison was exceptional, throwing two scoreless innings without allowing a hit or a walk while striking out four — and he earned the win for his effort. JoJo Romero followed with 1.2 hitless, scoreless innings and three strikeouts. Antonio Senzatela added a strikeout in a third of an inning, and Aaron Ashby locked it down with two scoreless innings and two strikeouts to earn the save. That is a collective effort by Milwaukee's relief corps that the Cardinals simply had no answer for down the stretch.

Alec Burleson Provided the Cardinals' Only Power

On the St. Louis side of the ledger, Alec Burleson was the lone bright spot offensively. He went 1-for-4 with a home run and one RBI — the Cardinals' only extra-base hit in the game. Beyond Burleson, St. Louis could not generate enough offense against a deep Brewers bullpen that retired the Cardinals in order when it counted most. One home run is not enough to win a game when your pitching surrenders a multi-run comeback.

Key Performances at a Glance

  • Brice Turang (MIL): 1-for-3, 1 HR, 2 RBI
  • Jackson Chourio (MIL): 2-for-4, 1 RBI
  • Alec Burleson (STL): 1-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI
  • Quinn Mathews (STL, L): 5.0 IP, 7 K, 3 ER, 5 H, 2 BB
  • Kyle Harrison (MIL, W): 2.0 IP, 4 K, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB
  • Aaron Ashby (MIL, SV): 2.0 IP, 2 K, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB

What Is Next for the Cardinals

The Cardinals return to action as they continue their final push through the 2026 regular season. A 3-2 loss to a division rival stings at any point in September, and St. Louis will need its offense to do more than lean on solo power if it wants to string together wins in this stretch. The pitching showed flashes — Mathews' strikeout rate, Graceffo's clean middle-relief work — but the inability to hold a lead is a problem that needs to be corrected. Watch for how the Cardinals respond in their next outing.