Cardinals 0 - 8 Brewers
Final
  for this game

Brewers rout Cardinals; La Russa manages 5,000th game

Jun 11, 2011 - 4:24 AM

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Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Ryan Braun hit a two-run homer and Chris Narveson tossed eight scoreless innings, as the Milwaukee Brewers dominated the St. Louis Cardinals, 8-0, in the opener of a three-game series.

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa managed the 5,000th game in his career on Friday, joining Connie Mack as the only managers/coaches in American professional sports to reach that milestone. La Russa's all-time record stands at 2,676-2,320 with four tie games.

Narveson (3-4) gave up six hits to go with six strikeouts and one walk for the Brewers, who have won six of their last eight games.

"I was able to command the strike zone and get outs," Narveson said. "You always need an outing like this."

Nyjer Morgan drove in two runs and Craig Counsell went 3-for-3 with three runs scored for the victors.

Kyle Lohse (7-3) allowed four runs on five hits over five full frames to take the loss for the Cardinals, who have lost two of three since a four-game winning streak.

"It's a very simple life," La Russa said. "You're excited when you win and disappointed when you lose."

St. Louis' best chance to score early on came in the second, when Yadier Molina hit a two-out double. Tyler Greene went down looking to end the inning.

The Brewers started their offensive attack in the third. Counsell led off with a triple off the wall in right and Jonathan Lucroy followed with a walk. Narveson then placed a nice bunt down the first-base line, and Counsell beat the throw home. Runners were on the corners after Rickie Weeks grounded into a fielder's choice, and Morgan's sacrifice fly to left made it a 2-0 game.

Braun's two-run homer to right-center field in the fifth made it 4-0.

The Brewers tacked on two more runs in the sixth. Corey Hart got the inning started with a homer to right. Counsell singled, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Weeks' double to right.

The Cardinals put men on first and second with two outs in the eighth, but Jon Jay went down swinging to end the frame.

Milwaukee capped off the scoring with two runs in the home eighth. With Counsell on third and one out, pinch-hitter Josh Wilson hit a double to left. Morgan drove in Wilson two batters later with a single to make it 8-0.

Game Notes

St. Louis took two of three meetings from Milwaukee in early May, but the Brewers have won nine of the previous 14 matchups in this series....Lohse fell to 0-5 against the Brewers in a St. Louis uniform. He is 3-8 in 18 games (16 starts) versus Milwaukee...The Brewers are 23-9 at Miller Park this season... The Cardinals were without outfielder Allen Craig (bruised/lacerated right knee)...St. Louis recalled pitcher Mitchell Boggs from Triple-A Memphis and optioned pitcher Lance Lynn to the same club Friday.






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