• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Cards crush Brewers, even NLCS

Oct 11, 2011 - 5:02 AM Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Albert Pujols was a hitting machine Monday night in Milwaukee, going 4-for-5 with five RBI and three runs scored to help the Cardinals crush the Brewers, 12-3, in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series.

Pujols had a homer and three doubles for St. Louis, which bounced back from a 9-6 loss on Sunday.

Nick Punto added two runs batted in for the Cardinals, who are back in this round for the 10th time in team history and the first time since 2006 when they won the World Series.

"Just another game," Pujols said. "I'm just glad I was able to help this ballclub to win. Go back home knowing there is a long series. Hopefully we can swing the bat the way we did, from the top of the lineup all the way to the bottom of the lineup the next couple of games and see where we're at."

St. Louis starter Edwin Jackson gave up two runs on seven hits over 4 1/3 innings. Lance Lynn (1-0) recorded the final two outs in the fifth to pick up the win.

Prince Fielder and Rickie Weeks homered for the NL Central-champion Brewers, who excelled at home during the regular season, setting a franchise record by going 57-24. Milwaukee went on to win all three games at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLDS before winning the first game of this best- of-seven series.

Shaun Marcum (0-2) allowed five runs on seven hits over four innings for Milwaukee, which is in a League Championship Series for the first time since 1982 when it beat the Angels in the ALCS before falling to St. Louis in the World Series.

Game 3 will take place in St. Louis on Wednesday at 8:05 p.m. (et). Yovani Gallardo of the Brewers will be opposed by Chris Carpenter.

Pujols got going early on for the Cardinals. Jon Jay reached base on a bunt single with one out in the first inning. Pujols stepped to the plate and crushed a 1-2 Marcum offering over the wall in left for an early 2-0 lead.

It was Pujols' 14th postseason home run, setting a franchise record. Jim Edmonds had 13 in the playoffs with St. Louis. It was Pujols' first postseason homer since the 2006 World Series.

Milwaukee had a chance to get on the board in the second. Jerry Hairston Jr. and Yuniesky Betancourt hit consecutive one-out singles to put men on first and second. Jackson retired the next two batters to get out of the minor jam.

The Cardinals doubled their lead in the third. Jackson led off the frame with a single to center that went under the glove of a sliding Nyjer Morgan. Jay singled two batters later to put two men on for Pujols. The St. Louis first baseman knocked in both runners with a double to center. The ball sailed over Morgan's glove and off the bottom of the wall. Marcum retired the next two batters to keep it a 4-0 game.

St. Louis tacked on another run in the fourth. Yadier Molina led off with a liner past a diving Hairston at third. The ball went down the left-field line and Molina made it to second base. Two batters later, Punto hit an RBI single up the middle for a 5-0 margin.

The Brewers finally got to Jackson in the home fourth. Fielder doubled to right-center field to start the inning. Weeks then smacked a 3-1 pitch over the wall in left.

But St. Louis put two runs on the board in the fifth. Marco Estrada gave up a double to Jay, who crossed the plate on Pujols' double to right-center field. Pujols went to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch to make it 7-2.

The Brewers' best chance to get back in the game came in the bottom of the fifth. Corey Hart led off with a walk and two batters later Ryan Braun hit a ground-rule double to center. Arthur Rhodes was called in from the bullpen and he walked Fielder to load the bases. Lynn took over for Rhodes and got Weeks to hit a grounder to short. The Cardinals were able to turn a big inning-ending double play to keep it a five-run game.

Replays appeared to indicate that Weeks beat the throw from second, but he was ruled out.

"Big part in the game, whether he's safe or out," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. "You guys saw the replay, that was a big play. If he's safe, we still have we have a run in, we have the at bat coming up with Hairston. Big play in the game."

St. Louis added four runs in the seventh to break the game open. Kameron Loe gave up a one-out double to Pujols. Matt Holliday then started a string of five straight singles, which plated four runs for an 11-2 lead.

Fielder and David Freese homered in the eighth and ninth, respectively, to account for the final margin.

Game Notes

Only twice since the addition of the wild card have two teams from the National League Central met in the NLCS. It last happened in 2005, when the Astros knocked the Cardinals out of the playoffs...In the previous 41 series in NLCS history, the loser of Game 1 has come back to win the series on 12 occasions. The last team to do so was the Cardinals in 2006 against the New York Mets...The Cardinals had 17 hits...Pujols set a personal postseason best with five RBI.