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Wolf hurls Brewers past fading Cardinals

Aug 11, 2011 - 3:44 AM St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Randy Wolf pitched eight impressive innings and the Brewers expanded their lead in the NL Central with a 5-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Corey Hart and Prince Fielder each drove in two runs for Milwaukee, which won its sixth in a row and moved five games ahead of the second-place Cardinals.

Wolf (9-8) scattered five hits and didn't walk a batter to win his third consecutive start as the Brewers locked down their 13th win in 14 games.

"He got a lot stronger as the game went along," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. "He threw the fastball in and out of the zone, threw some great changeups, nice breaking balls. It was hard to figure out what to do in the ninth, he was pitching so well."

Roenicke brought in Francisco Rodriguez to finish the game. The Cardinals put two men on base with two outs until Yadier Molina grounded out to end the contest.

Albert Pujols knocked in the lone run for the Cardinals, who lost 5-3 in 10 innings on Tuesday. They entered this series on a four-game winning streak, but will try to avoid the sweep Thursday night with Chris Carpenter on the mound. The problem is the Cardinals will have to face 13-game winner Yovani Gallardo.

Jake Westbrook (9-6) gave up six hits and three runs over eight innings to take the loss.

He walked five batters, including Hart to start the game. Nyjer Morgan then bunted for a hit and Ryan Braun singled to load the bases for Fielder, who lifted a sacrifice fly to center. Casey McGehee walked to fill the bases again, but Yuniesky Betancourt grounded into a double play.

Rafael Furcal doubled leading off the bottom half of the first and scored on a Pujols sacrifice fly to center.

The Brewers went ahead for good with a two-run third. Braun walked with one out and stole second before coming home on Fielder's double to right. Fielder went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Betancourt's two-out single to left.

Wolf retired 11 straight batters at one point until pinch-hitter Tony Cruz singled with one out in the eighth. Furcal then hit into an inning-ending double play.

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa was ejected in the ninth inning on a seemingly blown call at first base. Jerry Hairston Jr. singled to start the inning and went to second on a sacrifice bunt that turned out to be a throwing error on reliever Marc Rzepczynski. The bunt from pinch-hitter Josh Wilson went back to the mound. The throw to Pujols at first was a bit high, but he seemed to get his foot on the base in time. First base umpire Greg Gibson ruled safe, much to the dismay of La Russa and Pujols.

"He thought he got there and I missed the bag," Pujols said. "I thought I had the corner. There's nothing you can do after that."

Mitchell Boggs entered from the bullpen and pinch-hitter Jonathan Lucroy sacrificed the runners over with a bunt. Hart then delivered the big two-run single to center.

Game Notes

Milwaukee leads the season series, 8-3...Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday missed the game due to a sore back...The Brewers secured just their fifth road series win of the year (5-11-4).