ST. LOUIS — A one-run loss to the Brewers left Kolten Wong and the Cardinals frustrated.

Ryan Braun hit a solo home run in the ninth inning, leading the Brewers to a 2-1 win that dropped the Cardinals back in the NL wild-card race. They are a half-game behind the Mets for the second wild-card slot after the Mets posted a 10-3 drubbing of the Braves in Atlanta.

“I think everyone in this clubhouse is leaving here mad today,” Wong said. “We know this is what we play this game for. This is where the excitement comes and it's either show up or go home.”

In Saturday's 5-1 win, the Cardinals scored five runs in the eighth to win the game. It didn't work out that way Sunday.

The Cardinals tied it in the eighth when Matt Carpenter doubled and scored on Stephen Piscotty's sacrifice fly off Tyler Thornburg (6-5).

But Braun gave the Brewers the lead in the ninth. Thornburg struck out three in the ninth to give the Cardinals the loss.

“It's always disappointing after getting it tied up,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. “In these close games, you feel like you got a real shot, and they're always hard to swallow this time of year.”

Cardinals rookie Luke Weaver allowed three hits in six innings, striking out eight.

“I learned a lot today,” Weaver said. “I went with the fastball and trusted it and mixed some off-speed pitches in early and it worked out. I got some ground balls and just attacked.”

The Brewers' run off Weaver came in the first on singles by Scooter Gennett and Braun and a sacrifice fly from Chris Carter.

The Brewers had just four hits, with Braun getting the only one after the fifth inning.