Jean Segura leaves Brewers

MILWAUKEE -- Brewers shortstop Jean Segura is heading home to the Dominican Republic after the death of his 9-month-old son.

The 24-year-old Segura learned his son, Janniel, had died after the Brewers' 7-6 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night.

Segura's mother, who attended the game, told several Brewers' wives. They passed the news to their husbands, who then told Segura after the final out.

Ron Roenicke closed the Milwaukee clubhouse to reporters after the game Friday, and the Brewers manager appeared equally saddened a day later.

"I didn't know what to say to him other than giving him a hug and telling him we're there for him," Roenicke said. "He had a tough time."

Roenicke said that the child had been sick.

"Seggy was on the phone yesterday before the game and they thought he was OK, getting better," Roenicke said. "I really don't know much more than that."

The Brewers observed a moment of silence for Janniel Segura before Saturday's 10-2 loss to the Cardinals, their seventh straight. The clubhouse was closed before the game.

"I think everybody in the clubhouse was affected quite a bit," Roenicke said after the loss. "I don't want to make excuses. We knew that we still have a game to play and a job to do, but we did not play well today."

Segura went 1 for 4 with a double Friday night. He was placed on the bereavement list Saturday. Infielder Elian Herrera was recalled from Triple-A Nashville.

Milwaukee players went through batting practice in a somber mood.

"It broke my heart," center fielder Carlos Gomez said. "I'm getting out of the shower and I see he's crying. I go ask him what's happening. He told me, 'My child pass away.' And I dropped it right there.

"I don't know. I can't even imagine. We feel like everybody wants to stay home, but it's a job we have to finish, come in and play hard."

The Cardinals expressed their sympathy, too.

"When something like that happens, you become a family," winning pitcher Adam Wainwright said. "Baseball as a whole becomes a family. There's bigger things than baseball. I understand that he's going through something that I hope I never, never have to go through. So our hearts and prayers go out to him."

Added St. Louis manager Mike Matheny before the game: "I heard just a little about it. I can't even fathom that. We hurt for him, for sure."

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.