Manager Ned Yost said it was a slippery mound that caused more problems for closer Eric Gagne than pitching for the fourth consecutive day Sunday in Cincinnati.
It had rained most of the day when Gagne took over in the 10th inning with a two-run lead and promptly served up homers to Edwin Encarnacion and Paul Bako, setting the stage for the Reds' 4-3 victory. Gagne had saved five games on the three-city trip before suffering his third blown save of the season. Gagne had the same problem on Opening Day in rainy Chicago when he gave up a three-run homer by Kosuke Fukudome, erasing a 3-0 lead.
"We talked about it today where we said, 'You're just going to have to have (the grounds crew) come out and fix the mound,'" said Yost. "His stuff was fine. He was just slipping around out there.
"He told me, 'Next time, I will make them fix the mound.'"
Yost did admit he is still trying to get a feel for how much work Gagne can handle and still be effective. He said Gagne assured him Sunday he still felt strong and ready to pitch despite saving five games on the road trip.
"He said, 'When I don't feel good, I promise I'll let you know,'" said Yost. "We're just getting to know each other really well, to know what his capabilities are in terms of every single day as a closer."
CARDINALS 4, BREWERS 3: Former closer Derrick Turnbow was used for the first time this season with the game on the line and wasn't up to the task, allowing a ninth-inning run that lost the game. Turnbow had been used four times previously, all with the Brewers losing. Right fielder Corey Hart had a rough night, barely missing a drive by Troy Glaus in the third that became a two-run double and losing a fly in the lights in the eighth for a three-base error that led to the go-ahead run.
