Charging Cards Sweep Brewers 8-0

(Thursday, August 16th) Final Score: St. Louis 8, Milwaukee 0 Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Yadier Molina went 3-for-3 with two homers, three RBI and three runs scored to lead St. Louis over Milwaukee, 8-0, in the finale of a three-game set from Miller Park. David Eckstein added a three-run double for the Cardinals, who swept the series and have won five straight to pull within 2 1/2 games of Milwaukee for first place in the NL Central. Albert Pujols also knocked in a run. Adam Wainwright (11-9) hurled seven innings of two-hit shutout ball, fanning eight and walking three for his first win in his last three starts. Brewers starter Dave Bush (9-9) was charged with seven hits and three runs over seven innings in defeat, striking out four and walking one. "Im sick of hearing how bad we are doing," said Bush. "Were still in first place, still in control. We need to get back on track." Gabe Gross picked up a pair of hits for the Brewers, who have dropped four in a row. J.J. Hardy and Joe Dillon added singles in the loss. St. Louis broke open the game, exploding for five runs in the ninth. Against Derrick Turnbow, the Cards loaded the bases with none out when Chris Duncan reached on a wild pitch after striking out, and on walks to Molina and pinch- hitter Rick Ankiel. After an Aaron Miles strikeout, Eckstein cleared the bases with a double. Following a walk to Ryan Ludwick, Francisco Cordero entered and gave up an RBI single to Pujols, and two batters later a two-base error by Geoff Jenkins in left on Brendan Ryans blooper plated one more for an 8-0 score. Troy Percival locked up the win with a scoreless home half of the ninth. Molinas two-out, solo homer to left put the Cardinals up 1-0 in the second. Wainwright got out of a bases-loaded jam in the third by fanning Ryan Braun looking on a 3-2 pitch, and Molinas second homer of the game, a two-run blast in the fourth, gave the visitors some breathing room with a 3-0 lead. It was also the first multi-homer game of Molinas career. "Bush deserved a better fate. He pitched a good game," said Brewers manager Ned Yost. "With the exception of those pitches to Molina, it was his best game of the year. We had our chance there in the third, we were only down by one, but Wainwright made a big-league pitch to get Braun. We have to find a way to play better and do it in a hurry." Game Notes St. Louis has won six straight games against Milwaukee this year, and lead the season series, 7-5...The Cards outscored the Brewers, 28-7, in the series...Milwaukee was shutout for the fourth time this season...Each club left seven men on base.