It's too early to panic but if the Milwaukee Brewers want to avoid being swept in their three-game series at Busch Stadium today against the St. Louis Cardinals, they will have to start like they finished Wednesday night.

Although they fell short in dropping a 5-4 decision to the Cardinals, the Brewers finally showed some life on offense, scoring a pair of runs in the ninth inning on RBI doubles by J.J. Hardy and pinch hitter Craig Counsell.

Milwaukee, which went 7-8 vs. St. Louis last season, hasn't won a season series with the Cardinals since 1999 when they went 7-6. The Brewers have struggled in St. Louis overall posting an all-time record of 29-47. That includes 6-12 at new Busch Stadium and 23-35 at old Busch Stadium. They were 2-4 in St. Louis last season.

Looking for some reasons while Milwaukee is 2-5 over its last seven games?

Here are today's five points to ponder:

*** The Brewers are batting a miserable .188 (43-229) over their last seven games.

*** Milwaukee is batting .311 (37-119) with runners in scoring position this year, which leads the National League. But the Brewers are hitting just .204 (10-49) with runners in scoring position over their last seven games.

*** The Brewers have drawn 34 walks this season, which is the fewest in the Major Leagues. They have drawn just two walks or fewer in nine of their 14 games this season.

*** After several outstanding outings, Brewers starting pitchers are 1-5 over the last seven games, posting a 6.69 ERA (37 2/3 innings pitched, 28 earned runs).

*** Why is Gabe Gross batting second in the Brewers' lineup? Why not Corey Hart? Hart batted .285 with 24 homers, 81 RBI and 23 stolen bases in 140 games last season. He had his first four-hit game on Sunday in New York. Getting Hart on base to set the table for Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder could only help that struggling duo.

And leaving you on a positive note: Lefty reliever Brian Shouse has done his job this season, stranding all nine runners that he has inherited thus far.