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Molina, Cardinals thump Brewers again

Aug 16, 2007 - 11:13 PM By David Cotey PA SportsTicker contributing writer

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) - The Milwaukee Brewers are certainly glad to see Yadier Molina and the rest of the St. Louis Cardinals leave Miller Park.

Molina posted his first career multi-home run game, went 3-for-3 and drove in three runs as the Cardinals defeated the Brewers, 8-0, on Thursday to earn a three-game series sweep and further tighten the National League Central Division race.

David Eckstein added two hits and drove in three for the Cardinals, who have pulled within 2 1/2 games of the division-leading Brewers. This is the closest the Cardinals have been to first place since April 26. The team was a season-worst 10 1/2 games off the pace on June 30.

"I'm excited because we want to have some of that contention fun over the next six weeks," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "We can legitimately say we have a chance. It's been hard to get to this point."

Winners of five in a row and seven of eight, the Cardinals received a strong outing from starter Adam Wainwright (11-9), who allowed two hits over seven scoreless innings while striking out a career-high eight batters. The righthander also walked three batters during the 98-pitch effort.

"I was able to locate," Wainwright said. "I got fastball strikeouts and curveball strikeouts. I had all my pitches working."

Molina, who had just one home run entering the game, hit a solo shot to left off Brewers starter Dave Bush (9-9) with two outs in the second inning. The catcher, who went 6-for-12 in the series with six RBI, added a two-run blast off Bush in the fourth.

"We knew we had to come here and win three games and we did," Molina said. "We're playing good baseball."

Wainwright worked himself in and out of a tight jam in the third. After striking out the first two batters, he surrendered a long double to center by leadoff batter Gabe Gross. After walking J.J. Hardy and Prince Fielder to load the bases, Wainwright struck out rookie standout Ryan Braun to end the threat.

"He's a guy that's so dangerous," Wainwright said. "He's hitting .350 for a reason. I wanted to make him beat my best stuff. I was confident I was going to get him out. I wasn't thinking anything negative."

Wainwright, coming off a complete game loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in his last start Friday, has won four straight road decisions and five of seven overall.

"Our pitcher and catcher were our stars," La Russa said. "(Wainwright) just had real good composure and didn't miss his target much."

Bush, who has allowed six home runs in his last three starts and has not won as a starter since July 16, allowed three runs, seven hits, and one walk while striking out one in seven innings.

"If you make a decent pitch and they make a good swing at it, it probably was the wrong pitch to throw," said Bush, referring to Molina's home runs. "I'd like to have those pitches back."

The Brewers have lost eight of 10 and the team's starting rotation has not earned a win since August 3.

"We still control our own destiny," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "We have to find a way to play better, and we have to do it in a hurry, but we're still in first place."