Cards down Brewers again to draw closer in NL Central

Aug 16, 2007, 3:20 GMT

Milwaukee, WI - Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen and Jim Edmonds all homered as St. Louis downed Milwaukee, 8-3, in the second test of a three- game set at Miller Park.

Rolen finished 4-for-5 with a two-run shot and three runs scored for the Cardinals, who closed to within 3 1/2 games of Milwaukee in the NL Central. Pujols was 2-of-5 with a solo homer and Edmonds was 2-for-4 with a solo shot.

Joel Pineiro (3-2) allowed just two runs on five hits in seven innings of work en route to the win.

Bill Hall and Geoff Jenkins both homered for the Brewers, who remain atop the division despite losing three straight games and seven of nine.

Rookie Yovani Gallardo (4-3) took the loss after surrendering seven runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings.

The Cardinals took control with a three-run, two-out rally in the first. Pujols started things by blasting his 25th homer of the year over the wall in center. Edmonds followed with a single and Rolen then slammed his eighth home run of the year to left.

The Brewers got on the board in the second on Hall's two-out solo shot, his 10th of the year.

St, Louis got that run back in the fourth. Rolen singled and scored on Yadier Molina's double to left.

The Cardinals broke things open in the sixth. Consecutive doubles by Rolen and Chris Duncan quickly made it a 5-1 game. Gallardo then plunked Molina before Duncan was erased at third on Pineiro's fielder's choice.

But, Molina and Pineiro quickly advanced on a passed ball before Brendan Ryan executed a suicide squeeze to plate Molina. David Eckstein finally capped the frame with an RBI single to give St. Louis a comfortable 7-1 cushion.

Edmonds' solo homer in the seventh, his eighth on the season, extended the Cards lead to 8-1.

Jenkins cracked a solo shot of his own in the home-half to make it an 8-2 game. The homer was the 209th of Jenkins' career and he passed Gorman Thomas for sole possession of second place on the team's all-time list.

The Brewers tacked on a meaningless run in the eighth. Pinch-hitter Joe Dillon tripled and crossed the plate on Corey Hart's sacrifice fly to center.

Game Notes

Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder was suspended for three games and fined an undisclosed amount for his tirade directed at home plate umpire Wally Bell during Sunday's game. Fielder, cited for inappropriate and aggressive conduct, went ballistic on Bell during an argument that started after the slugger was called out on strikes in the eighth inning. Fielder appealed the suspension and will be allowed to play until his grievance is heard. He was 0-for-4 in the game...The Brewers also recalled outfielder Gabe Gross from Triple-A Nashville and designated RHP Chris Spurling for assignment...The Brewers had a triple for the seventh straight game, a franchise record.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

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