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Molina, Cards continue Central battle with Brewers

Aug 10, 2011 - 3:15 PM (Sports Network) - After yet another loss to the division-rival Brewers, the Cardinals could use a spark as they try to avoid falling further back in the National League Central division.

That igniter could be Yadier Molina, who is eligible to return from a five- game suspension tonight in the middle contest of a three-game series between St. Louis and Milwaukee at Busch Stadium.

Molina showed his ability to provide some emotion last week against the Brewers, but took it a bit too far in an extra-inning victory. After getting rung up by Rob Drake in the 10th inning, Molina went belly-to-belly with the home plate umpire, making contact while also seeming to spit on Drake's face following an ejection.

Though Molina, who is hitting .293 this season, denied spitting at the umpire, he did apologize for his actions and did not appeal his ban. He sat out St. Louis' four-game sweep in Florida following the series loss to Milwaukee and finished up his suspension by missing last night's 5-3 defeat to the Brewers in 10 innings.

Milwaukee plated a pair of runs in the deciding frame, getting the go-ahead score on Casey McGehee's double before Yuniesky Betancourt tacked on an insurance run with a sacrifice fly.

The Brewers' fifth straight win and 12th in 13 games was finished off by John Axford, who notched his 33rd save of the year by working around a one-out double by Lance Berkman to push Milwaukee's edge over St. Louis for first place in the standings to four games.

"I'm just going after hitters a little more right now," Axford said. "I'm trying to keep the walks down. Obviously, defense and offense in front of you, that's going to help."

Corey Hart returned from a one-game absence due to a hand injury to belt a two-run homer for the winners.

St. Louis had 11 hits and left 10 men on base. The Cardinals had a runner in scoring position with two outs in the ninth inning, but Albert Pujols flied out to right to squander the opportunity.

"When you play the team that's in front of you you'd like to take advantage of it," Berkman said. "They're in front of us for a reason because they have a great team. They're going to be tough to beat."

Berkman's words have proven true this year as the Brewers have won seven of 10 over the Cardinals.

Randy Wolf takes the hill for Milwaukee and had to lean on his offense last week against the Cardinals. He will look to repay the favor tonight and secure a series victory.

The veteran lefty won his second straight start following an 0-4 skid, but was touched for five runs on nine hits over six innings of a 10-5 win on Wednesday. That came after he held the Astros scoreless over seven innings of a July 29 win and Wolf was quick to credit his offense after last week's game, especially McGehee after he hit three homers in the victory.

"They definitely picked me up today," Wolf said. "It was nice to see the way they battled. It was really fun to watch Casey have a game like he did today."

Wolf still evened his season record to 8-8 over 23 starts with a 3.61 earned run average despite struggling against the Cardinals for a second time in 2011. The 34-year-old also took a loss at St. Louis on May 6, giving up six runs over five innings.

Rafael Furcal hit a three-run homer off Wolf last week and Pujols has drive in three runs against him this year. Molina has also homered off Wolf this season.

Jake Westbrook draws the start for the Cardinals tonight seeking to reach double-digit wins for a second straight campaign.

Westbrook is coming off a no-decision at Florida on Friday after he yielded two runs on six hits and three walks over six innings. He is 9-5 with a 4.83 ERA in 23 starts this season.

The 33-year-old right-hander did not face the Brewers last week but did take a loss to them in Milwaukee on June 12. He allowed four runs over five innings in that one, falling to 0-1 with a 2.84 ERA against them lifetime in three outings.