MILWAUKEE (AP) — Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado each hit two-run homers as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-4 on Wednesday night and moved into first place in the NL Central.
The Cardinals have taken two straight from the Brewers after falling 2-0 in the opener of the four-game series.
Rowdy Tellez and Andrew McCutchen hit solo homers for the Brewers. McCutchen also had an RBI double.
The Cardinals trailed 4-3 before Arenado’s sixth-inning drive to left-center — his 14th homer of the season — put St. Louis ahead for good. Goldschmidt went deep to left in the first inning for his 17th homer.
Milwaukee threatened with two outs in the ninth as Victor Caratini walked and Tyrone Taylor was hit by a pitch, but Génesis Cabrera got out of the jam by retiring Christian Yelich on a grounder to second.
Cabrera pitched the final two innings to earn his third career save, and first since 2020. Johan Oviedo (1-1) got his first career win with 2 1/3 innings of perfect relief.
Over the last two games, Cardinals relievers have allowed just three walks and one hit while pitching 10 1/3 scoreless innings. The Cardinals’ bullpen was dominant Wednesday at less than full strength after both Giovanny Gallegos and Ryan Helsley had pitched two innings a night earlier.
St. Louis’ bullpen picked up the slack after starter Adam Wainwright allowed four runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings, the second-shortest of his 14 appearances this season.
Goldschmidt was back in the Cardinals’ lineup after sitting out a 6-2 victory Tuesday due to back tightness. The Cardinals used Goldschmidt as a designated hitter rather than putting him at first base because they wanted to keep him off his feet as much as possible.
The homers by Arenado and Goldschmidt came against Eric Lauer (6-3), who worked six innings and gave up five runs while striking out five and walking one. Lauer has allowed eight homers over his last three starts.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cardinals: LHP T.J. McFarland went on the injured list. Manager Oliver Marmol said McFarland tested positive for COVID-19 and had minor symptoms. RHP Junior Fernández was recalled from Triple-A Memphis.
Brewers: Kolten Wong said he was feeling better Wednesday, one day after manager Craig Counsell said the second baseman had a setback in his recovery from a calf strain. Wong is on the injured list and hasn’t played since June 7. Wong said he started improving Tuesday when he woke up without feeling any tenderness in the calf. Wong is hoping he will be able to return without needing a rehabilitation assignment.
UP NEXT
Dakota Henderson (5-3, 3.31 ERA) starts for the Cardinals and Jason Alexander (1-0, 2.42) pitches for the Brewers as this four-game series concludes with a Thursday afternoon matchup of right-handers.
