Mon May 12 23:00:37 2008

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Braun powers Brewers past Cardinals

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Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Ryan Braun hit two home runs for the second straight day, and the Milwaukee Brewers scored five times in the third inning en route to an 8-3 dismantling of the St. Louis Cardinals in the finale of a four-game series at Miller Park.

Corey Hart went 2-for-4 and knocked in a pair of runs for the Brewers, who took three of four in the series. Bill Hall added a solo homer, while Mike Cameron doubled, knocked in a run and scored a run.

Dave Bush (1-4) held the Cardinals to a run on four hits over six innings to pick up his first win of the season, while Guillermo Mota picked up his first save.

Rick Ankiel homered for the Cardinals, who have lost five of six, while Jason LaRue and Skip Schumaker drove in a run apiece. Adam Wainwright (3-2) lost after being shelled for eight runs -- six earned -- on eight hits over six innings.

Tied 1-1, the Brewers exploded for five runs off Wainwright in the bottom of the third.

Bush led off with a double, moved to third on Jason Kendall's single, and scored one out later when Cameron slammed a ground-rule double down the line in left. Braun walked to load the bases, and after Prince Fielder struck out, Hart laced a single through the left side of the infield to plate Kendall and Cameron.

Hall followed by lofting a popup to shallow right that went in-and-out of Adam Kennedy's glove before being swatted into foul territory, allowing two score on the two-base error.

Braun added his second homer of the game in the fifth, and Hall lined a solo shot to center in the bottom of the sixth as the Brewers put the game out of reach.

Mitch Stetter walked four batters to force in the Cardinals final run in the ninth, but Mota came on to strike out Ankiel and lock up the win.

Ankiel gave the Cardinals the lead with two outs in the top of the first, bashing a curveball from Bush over the wall in right for a solo blast.

Braun wasted no time tying the game, smashing a two-out solo homer of his own in the bottom of the frame.

Game Notes

Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa and catcher Yadier Molina were both ejected in the bottom of the fifth inning for arguing balls and strikes. After being ejected, Molina left his shin guards, chest protector and gloves at home plate...It was the fifth multi-homer game of Braun's career...The Brewers stay home on Tuesday to start a three-game set with the Dodgers...The Cardinals return home to open a three-game series with Pittsburgh...Attendance was 25,757.