CINNCINATI, OHIO (WSAU)With only nine games left, the Milwaukee Brewers are three-and-a-half out of playoff contention after they got crushed at Washington 12-to-2 yesterday. The Saint Louis Cardinals extended their lead for the final National League Wild Card spot with a 6-to-1 victory at Houston last night. The Cards’ magic number is now six to eliminate both Milwaukee and the L-A Dodgers, which are both tied at the moment. The Dodgers were off yesterday.

The Brewers fell apart in the fourth inning, when the Nationals broke a 1-1 tie with a six-run rally and never looked back. Ryan Zimmerman hit a three-run homer in that frame, and he drove in five on the day while going 3-for-4.

Former U-W Stevens Point star Jordan Zimmermann from Auburndale struck out seven in six-and-two-thirds innings to improve to 12-and-8. And he had an R-B-I single in that fourth-inning outburst. Marco Estrada got shelled for seven runs in four innings, and the loss dropped him to 4-and-7.

The Brewers scored their runs on a solo homer by Corey Hart and an R-B-I double from Aramis Ramirez – who needs just four more two-baggers to break the team season record in that department. Milwaukee split its four-game series with the Nationals, and is 5-and-2 on its 10-game road trip.

Tonight, the Brewers open a three-game series at Cincinnati, which clinched the N-L Central Division last Saturday. Right-hander Mike Fiers will start for the Crew against Reds’ right-hander Johnny Cueto.