Wolf gets 1st win at Busch to lead Brewers

[July 02, 2010]  ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Randy Wolf allowed one run over 6 1-3 innings and Prince Fielder hit one of three Milwaukee home runs to lead the Brewers to a 4-1 victory over St. Louis on Thursday night.

The Brewers, who have won eight of their last 11, lead the National League with 99 homers.

Wolf (6-7) gave up four hits, including a leadoff home run to Albert Pujols in the seventh inning. Wolf struck out four and walked one despite entering the game with a major-league high 50 walks. He won for the first time in five career starts at Busch Stadium.

Pujols hit a 1-2 pitch into the left-field bleachers for his league-leading 19th home run and 385th of his career, tying him with Jim Edmonds and Dwight Evans for 53rd on the all-time list.

Milwaukee outfielder Corey Hart added a double in the fifth inning to extend his hitting streak to 16 games.

Fielder hit his 18th home run of the season off rookie reliever Fernando Salas in the eighth inning to push the lead to 4-1.

Casey McGehee and George Kottaras also homered for the Brewers.

McGehee hit his 13th in the second inning off Blake Hawksworth, who gave up three runs and six hits over six innings. Hawksworth (2-5) struck out a career-high seven and walked one.

Kottaras added a two-run homer in the fifth for a 3-0 lead. He brought in Alcides Escobar, who singled to start the inning. Escobar had three hits.

Kameron Loe relieved Wolf in the seventh with runners on first and third and one out. He induced Yadier Molina to ground into a double play. Loe got Pujols to pop out with two on and two outs to end the eighth.

Closer John Axford worked the ninth to pick up his ninth save in as many chances.

NOTES: Cardinals RHP Chris Carpenter is on track to make his regular start on Saturday. Carpenter took a line drive off his right forearm in the first inning of a 6-5 win over Arizona on Monday. "It's fine, it's good," Carpenter said. ... Cardinals RHP Brad Penny (back) is scheduled for either a simulated game or a bullpen session this weekend and remains on a timetable to return after the All-Star break. ... OF Ryan Ludwick (calf) was unavailable even to pinch-hit Wednesday and was out of the lineup for the eighth time in nine games Thursday, but Cardinals manager Tony La Russa believes he could return this weekend. ... Milwaukee manager Ken Macha said RHP Doug Davis' third rehab start with Class-A Wisconsin against Quad Cities went well. Davis threw 99 pitches in seven innings, allowing one run. ... Fielder had 10 home runs in June to lead the majors.

[Associated Press]

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