Brewers 1 - 3 Cardinals
Final
  for this game

McClellan, Cardinals down Brewers

May 9, 2011 - 1:13 AM

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St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Kyle McClellan pitched into the ninth inning and Colby Rasmus hit a two-run double as St. Louis downed Milwaukee, 3-1, in the rubber match of a three-game set from Busch Stadium.

McClellan (5-0) ended up allowing one run on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts for the win. Fernando Salas notched his third save by recording the final out of the contest.

"The [5-0] really doesn't have a lot to do with me. The offense putting up runs for me, the defense is making plays," McClellan said.

Nick Punto also knocked in a run and Tyler Greene went 3-for-3 with a run scored for the Cardinals, who have won four of six overall.

Craig Counsell drove in the lone run for the Brewers, who have lost eight of nine.

Chris Narveson (1-3) surrendered seven hits and three runs -- two earned -- while fanning five over six frames in the setback.

St. Louis broke through in the fifth, as Punto and Greene hit consecutive singles to start the frame and came home on a two-out, two-run double from Rasmus.

Casey McGehee mishandled a Lance Berkman drive to start the sixth, putting the slugger on second base. Yadier Molina sacrificed him to third and Punto's fly to center scored the run for a 3-0 game.

McClellan was pulled after Prince Fielder led off the ninth with a single. Eduardo Sanchez walked McGehee then retired the next two batters before walking Carlos Gomez to load the bases.

After a lengthy at-bat, pinch-hitter Counsell drove in a run with a single to deep short and Sanchez gave way to Salas, who fanned Rickie Weeks on three pitches to end the game.

"He dealt with some tough pitches, and kept fouling them off until he got a pitch he could handle. It was an outstanding at-bat," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said of Counsell's plate appearance. "Coming back in the ninth inning, it was a good job there to load the bases."

Milwaukee left the bases loaded in the first inning, then Narveson's double- play grounder in the fourth killed another Brewers rally.

Game Notes

The Cardinals improved to 7-0 in games McClellan has started this season...Greene's other three-hit game came on June 10, 2009 at Florida...McClellan had been 0-4 with a 2.82 earned run average in 22 career relief turns against the Brewers prior to Sunday...St. Louis begins a six-game road trip on Tuesday in Chicago, and Milwaukee hosts San Diego on Monday.






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