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Cardinals finally solve Brewers

Aug 28, 2008 - 4:30 AM By Thad Kemlage PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- Albert Pujols and Ryan Ludwick ignited an eighth-inning rally as the St. Louis Cardinals erupted for four runs in the frame to record a 5-3 triumph over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday.

Having lost seven straight to the Brewers, the Cardinals appeared headed for an eighth consecutive defeat before the comeback.

"That was a (heck) of a rally in the eighth," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "We try really hard all the time, and this was a great win for us. It keeps us alive."

Pujols belted a leadoff double to right-center field and scored on a two-base hit by Ludwick, who earlier had belted his 32nd home run. Troy Glaus, who struck out three times, singled off David Riske (1-2) to plate Ludwick with the tying run and moved to second on the throw home.

After a groundout by Yadier Molina advanced Glaus to third, Aaron Miles then hit a grounder to shortstop J.J. Hardy. But Glaus beat Hardy's throw to the plate, giving the Cardinals a 4-3 lead.

"The ball was just deep enough and the throw was just low enough," La Russa said. "I just thought sometimes you've got to just go for it and try and win the game."

Felipe Lopez drove in an insurance run with a single, making it 5-3.

Ryan Franklin (5-5) picked up the victory by pitching a scoreless eighth and Chris Perez notched his sixth save by striking out the side in the ninth.

"The last thing you want to do is give that right back up after the comeback we made," Perez said. "It was a big win, and hopefully it will push us through in this upcoming road trip."

Milwaukee scored its first run in the third on three infield singles and a throwing error by starting pitcher Adam Wainwright. The Brewers added two more in the fourth on back-to-back doubles by Corey Hart and Mike Cameron and an RBI single by Jason Kendall.

Wainwright made his second start after missing 2 1/2 months with a sprained finger. The righthander gave up three runs and eight hits in six innings.

"I felt a lot better today than my last time out, and I was much sharper with my pitches," Wainwright said. "They put some good at-bats against me and got some tough hits."