Braun homers twice again as Brewers beat Cards

[May 13, 2008]  MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Ryan Braun hit two home runs for the second game in a row, and St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina and manager Tony La Russa both were ejected from the Milwaukee Brewers' 8-3 victory Monday night.

Braun followed up Sunday's two-homer performance by hitting two more off stingy Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright (3-2), who had given up four runs or less in his first seven starts and had a 2.25 ERA going into the game.

The second of Braun's blasts might have contributed to emotional outbursts by Molina and La Russa in the fifth inning.

With one out, Braun clobbered a 2-1 pitch from Wainwright into the Brewers' bullpen in left field. After Prince Fielder struck out, Corey Hart came to the plate and took a borderline pitch low and outside for a ball.

Molina complained about the call and was ejected by home plate umpire Paul Schrieber as La Russa was walking out of the dugout. As Molina protested his ejection by taking off his gear and leaving it in a pile at Schrieber's feet, La Russa continued to argue and eventually was ejected himself.

Brewers starter Dave Bush (1-4) gave up a run and four hits in six innings.

Bush also led off the third with a double, setting the stage for a five-run inning that included an RBI single by Mike Cameron, a two-run single by Hart and another two runs that scored after second baseman Adam Kennedy bobbled Bill Hall's pop fly with two outs.

Struggling Brewers reliever Eric Gagne took over for Bush in the seventh, his first appearance since admitting Saturday that he no longer deserved to be the team's closer -- a statement he took back before Monday's game.

Gagne walked the first batter he faced, Troy Glaus, then got a double play and a groundout. Gagne stayed in for what turned out to be a sloppy eighth inning.

Cesar Izturis singled and took second on defensive indifference, then scored on a single off the right field wall by Skip Schumaker. Gagne got Jason LaRue to pop out, but allowed Schumaker to go to second on a wild pitch and walked Rick Ankiel. Gagne then struck out Ryan Ludwick and got Chris Duncan to pop out in foul territory to end the inning.

Fellow deposed closer Jason Isringhausen pitched a scoreless eighth for St. Louis.

Left-hander Mitch Stetter opened the ninth for Milwaukee but also struggled, walking the first two hitters he faced, getting two straight popouts, and then walking in a run with two more bases on balls. Right-hander Guillermo Mota came in with the bases loaded and struck out Ankiel for his first save of the season.

[Associated Press; By CHRIS JENKINS]

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.