Brewers open a key weekend series against the Mets

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MILWAUKEE - The Milwaukee Brewers had their first day off in three weeks yesterday – and they lost a half-game in the National League Wild Card chase.

The Saint Louis Cardinals edged the Dodgers in Los Angeles, 2-to-1 on Allen Craig’s RBI-single in the seventh inning. That extended the Cardinals’ lead to three-and-a-half games over the Brewers for the second NL Wild Card spot. The Dodgers are now two games behind the Cards, and Pittsburgh is three back. Milwaukee is next in the standings, and Philadelphia is now a half-game behind the Brewers at four back. The Brewers have a three-game winning streak after sweeping Atlanta this week. Milwaukee has won nine straight at Miller Park, where they’ll open a weekend series against the New York Mets tonight. The Mets are 13 games below .500 after losing six straight home games, while Milwaukee went above .500 this week for the first time since mid-April. The Crew is at 72-71, after winning 18-of-its-last-23. Rookie right-hander Mike Fiers will start for the Brewers tonight against Mets’ left-hander Jonathan Niese.

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The Brewers will keep their Double-“A” farm club in Huntsville Alabama for at least two more years. Milwaukee announced an extension of its player development contract with the Huntsville Stars through 2014. Brewers’ general manager Doug Melvin says Huntsville and the Southern League provide a competitive environment for the Milwaukee prospects. But just like at Triple-“A” Nashville, Melvin says the Huntsville stadium should be replaced – and he says the Stars’ owners are doing what they can to try-and-get it done. Huntsville has been the Brewers’ Double-“A” affiliate for the last 14 years. The Stars have won four division titles during that span, and they were the Southern League co-champs in 2001.

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