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Brewers win, take first place in NL Central at break

Jul 14, 2014 - 12:27 AM Milwaukee, WI (SportsNetwork.com) - Carlos Gomez went 3-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored, as Milwaukee cruised into the All-Star break with an 11-2 victory over St. Louis in the finale of a three-game set.

Scooter Gennett added three hits, two RBI and scored twice for the Brewers, who avoided a sweep and a winless homestand (1-6), while putting the brakes on a seven-game slide and taking a one-game lead over their Sunday foes for first place in the NL Central.

"It makes the break a lot funner," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said of ending the losing streak. "If you lose today, you're not sure when this streak is going to end."

Elian Herrera finished a career-best 5-for-5 and scored three times for the hosts, while Ryan Braun drove in two and Khris Davis added a solo homer and two RBI.

Wily Peralta (10-6) allowed one unearned run on three hits while fanning five over seven solid innings.

Matt Adams and George Kottaras knocked in a run each for the Cardinals, who lost for just the second time in their last seven.

"Let's get some rest, enjoy your family and enjoy your time," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said of the upcoming All-Star break

Carlos Martinez (2-4) lasted just four frames in defeat, tagged for four runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and three walks.

Ahead by a run, Gennett brought home two in the bottom half on a two-out double, then Davis cranked up a two-out solo shot in the fifth for a 5-1 Brewers advantage.

The hosts extended their advantage with three more runs in the sixth courtesy of three RBI singles from Gomez, Braun and Aramis Ramirez.

Gomez sent Herrera home with a double in the seventh which pushed Milwaukee's lead to 9-1.

In the eighth, with runners on second and third after a Ramirez single and Jonathan Lucroy ground-rule double, a Davis groundout scored Ramirez and Lyle Overbay brought in Lucroy with a single to left.

St. Louis picked up a run in the ninth. Peter Bourjos walked and Adams singled to put runners on the corners, then Gennett bobbled a Kottaras grounder leading to Bourjos crossing the plate. Francisco Rodriguez retired the next two batters to end the game.

Milwaukee struck twice in the opening inning. Gomez and Gennett singled, then Braun's high blooper along the right-field line managed to score both before Braun was thrown out trying to reach second.

In the Cards' fourth, Kolten Wong fanned but managed to reach first on a third-strike passed ball, stole second, moved to third on a groundout and came home on an Adams grounder to third.

Game Notes

Milwaukee's first four hitters -- Gomez, Gennett, Braun and Ramirez -- combined to go 11-for-17 with six runs scored and seven RBI ... The Brewers tied a season high with 19 hits ... Mike Matheny will manage the N.L. All Stars on Tuesday, the fifth Cards skipper to do so (Tony La Russa 2005, '07, '12; Whitey Herzog '83, '86, '88; Red Schoendienst '68, '69 and Billy Southworth 1943-44).