The Cardinals have received two wins in 14 games this month from a starting pitcher, and Todd Wellemeyer has earned both.

Yet Sunday afternoon at Busch Stadium was a reminder that Wellemeyer remains a pitcher in the wilderness, uncertain about his mechanics, his command or the outcome. It became obvious during an 8-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers that this is not a good place to be.

"I'm still yet to get where I was last year as far as total feeling out there: delivery, confidence, simplifying all that stuff," Wellemeyer said after delivering a truly unique start that lasted 5 2/3 innings and 106 pitches.

Wellemeyer became the first Redbirds pitcher in at least 55 years to walk at least seven hitters and hit two batters in the same start. Research does not extend farther back than 1954, or else Wellemeyer's Sunday outing might truly take on historical significance. As is, he endured a 41-pitch, four-run first inning that took a diminished offense out of the game almost before it began.

"They were either perfect pitches, when I got double plays or got them to do what I wanted, or they weren't even close," said Wellemeyer, whose ERA rose to 5.87 though he did not allow a hit after the first inning. "It was either one way or the other. I hit the pitcher in the foot on a 1-2 changeup. That shouldn't happen."

Wellemeyer (3-4) has made eight starts, a quarter of a full season's allotment. He has

allowed 83 baserunners in 46 innings, a staggering 1.8 per inning. The same mechanical inconsistencies that dogged him during spring training have followed him into the season, where he fronts a lineup desperately missing outfielders Ryan Ludwick and Rick Ankiel.

"I want to be able to stay back and stay tall," Wellemeyer said about a delivery that has often seemed rushed. "Today I would think about it on the way to the plate and it was way too late."

Winning for the eighth time in their last nine games at Busch Stadium, the first-place Brewers (23-14) reached Wellemeyer for four runs in the first inning on a pair of two-out, bases-loaded singles by shortstop J.J. Hardy and catcher Jason Kendall.

Wellemeyer walked three during the rally and was unable to put away Hardy after leading in the count, 0-2. Neither hit was crushed. Kendall's dropped in front of right fielder Shane Robinson.

"The walks put them on. The bloop you can't do anything about. The walks were on me," Wellemeyer said.

Odd for a pitcher with such scattershot command, Wellemeyer also struck out the side in the first inning and did not get an outfield putout until the fourth. He got double plays in the fourth and fifth innings, allowing only one runner to reach scoring position after the tell-all first. Wellemeyer's last pitch hit Brewers starting pitcher Manny Parra in the foot.

La Russa termed it "the rough and the good."

Said Wellemeyer: "To almost make that a quality start blows my mind."

The club remains publicly supportive. Wellemeyer is a pending free agent and former reliever who excelled last season in a starting role. The Cardinals wait to see that pitcher again.

"I'd be lying to you if I say we weren't concerned. But I don't see any reason not to give him the ball yet," general manager John Mozeliak said.

The Brewers have won 19 of their last 25 games to jump from last place to first. The Cardinals have lost nine of 13 since a 17-7 start and stand two games off the NL Central lead for the first time this season.

"We have a competitive club," La Russa said. "It's a rough time. We just have to play our way through it."

The club expects to activate Ankiel on Wednesday; Ludwick is not eligible to return from a strained hamstring until May 28. Meanwhile, La Russa started four roookies Sunday.

The lefthanded Parra (3-4) held the Cardinals to two runs for six innings. The Cardinals scratched out six hits, two by first baseman Albert Pujols and one for extra bases, while producing one base runner in three innings against the Brewers' bullpen.

The Cardinals crept within 4-2 when rookie left fielder Nick Stavinoha singled to score Pujols with no one out in the sixth inning and rookie center fielder Colby Rasmus plated catcher Yadier Molina with a ground ball.

The threat died when shortstop Khalil Greene popped out and pinch hitter Joe Thurston struck out with the tying run on base.

A three-run response in the seventh inning blew out the game against reliever Blaine Boyer, who failed to retire any of four hitters he faced. Lefthanded-hitting first baseman Prince Fielder took advantage of being paired against a righthander by smoking a three-run home run into the Cardinals bullpen for a 7-2 lead.