MILWAUKEE (AP) Pitcher Miles Mikolas hit a home run and got the win in his return from a three-year stint in Japan, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat Milwaukee 8-4 on Monday to spoil the Brewers’ home opener.
Paul DeJong connected for the second straight game, hitting his third homer this season to boost the Cardinals. The Brewers had opened the season with a three-game sweep at San Diego.
Mikolas (1-0) gave up a two-run homer to Eric Thames and solo shots to Lorenzo Cain and Manny Pina. But the 29-year-old righty benefited from the Cardinals’ own outburst at hitter-friendly Miller Park.
Mikolas (1-0) got in on the fun in the fifth with his first major league hit, a two-run homer off Zach Davies (0-1) that broke a 2-2 tie.
It was a memorable return to the majors for Mikolas. He gave up seven hits and four runs in 5 2/3 innings in his first big league start since Aug. 25, 2014, when he pitched eight innings for the Texas Rangers in a 2-0 win over Seattle.
Mikolas played 37 games for San Diego and Texas in 2012-14. He was 4-6 on the mound and 0 for 4 at the plate.
DeJong’s two-run shot, highlighted a four-run sixth that gave St. Louis an 8-2 lead.
The Brewers threatened in the bottom of the sixth. After Thames homered, they put runners on the corners, but reliever Bud Norris struck out Orlando Arcia on a 2-2 slider to end the threat.
Davies allowed eight hits and seven runs, six earned, over 5 1/3 innings in his season debut. The 25-year-old right-hander is coming off a career-best 17-win season in 2017.
The series continues Tuesday evening as Jack Flaherty starts for St. Louis, and Milwaukee goes with Chase Anderson. The first pitch at Miller Park is scheduled for 6:40. Tuesday’s game can be heard on KTLO-AM. The broadcast begins at 5:45 with Ameren Total Access.
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