Cardinals help Cubs move in on Brewers By R.B. FALLSTROM, AP Sports Writer

Cardinals help Cubs move in on Brewers By R.B. FALLSTROM, AP Sports Writer
10 minutes ago



ST. LOUIS - The Milwaukee Brewers' NL Central lead is almost gone. Ryan Ludwick's bases-loaded walk broke an eighth-inning tie, Albert Pujols followed with a three-run double and the St. Louis Cardinals rallied from a five-run deficit to beat the Brewers 9-5 Sunday.

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Milwaukee, which led the division by 8 1/2 games before play on June 24, is just a half-game ahead of the Chicago Cubs, the Brewers' smallest margin in the Central since before play on April 22.

The defending World Series Cardinals are just six games back after trailing by 10 1/2 games at the end of June.

St. Louis closed to 5-4 in a four-run fifth inning, then went ahead in a five-run eighth against Derrick Turnbow (2-4) and Carlos Villanueva.

Scott Rolen tied the score with his 1,000th RBIs, hitting a one-out single following singles by pinch-hitter Skip Schumaker and Yadier Molina. David Eckstein's single, hit third hit of the game, loaded the bases and Villanueva relieved.

Ludwick, who drove in the go-ahead runs in both ends of Saturday's doubleheader, walked on a 3-2 pitch for a 6-5 lead. Pujols then broke open the game.

Ryan Franklin (4-0) pitched 1 2-3 scoreless innings as St. Louis won its third straight.

Milwaukee completed a 2-6 trip and has lost 11 of its last 14 road games, dropping to 21-32 away from Miller Park.

Cardinals starter Kip Wells allowed five runs and 11 hits in five innings. Milwaukee rookie Yovani Gallardo didn't allow a hit until the fifth, when he gave up four runs and four hits.

Ryan Braun's RBI single and Johnny Estrada's two-run single put the Brewers ahead in the third, and Gallardo had a two-run, two-out single in the fifth.

Scott Spiezio, activated from the 15-day disabled list before the game and playing for only the fifth time since June 26, doubled to start the fifth. Eckstein fouled off seven 0-2 pitches before lofting an RBI double, and the Cardinals added two more runs on Estrada's passed ball and Ludwick's groundout.

St. Louis loaded the bases with one out in the seventh against Scott Linebrink when Pujols was intentionally walked. Chris Duncan struck out and Jim Edmonds flied out.

Notes:@ Estrada is 7-for-15 against Wells. ... Brian Shouse worked a scoreless sixth for Milwaukee and has not allowed an earned run in his last 20 appearances covering 17 2-3 innings. ... The Cardinals lead the NL with 46 pinch hits.