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Stavinoha lifts Cardinals over Brewers 3-2

MILWAUKEE — Nick Stavinoha had two RBIs and scored the go-ahead run to lead St. Louis to a 3-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday, pushing the Cardinals back into first in the NL Central.

St. Louis has won seven of its last nine and hasn't allowed more than three runs in any game in the stretch.

Cardinals starter Todd Wellemeyer (5-4) and the bullpen showcased the best team ERA in the majors (3.58) by silencing the struggling Brewers, who struck out 27 times in the three-game series and have lost five of six to drop out of first for the first time in two weeks.

Wellemeyer was solid for the second straight outing and five relievers pitched 3 2-3 scoreless innings. Closer Ryan Franklin got the final four outs, working around a leadoff walk and a two-out single by Craig Counsell in the ninth for his 12th save.

Stavinoha, a rookie, is making a strong case to stay with the Cardinals even when outfielders Ryan Ludwick and Rick Ankiel return to the starting lineup, which is expected Friday.

Stavinoha, who had a run-scoring fielder's choice in the first and a sacrifice fly in the third, led off the sixth with a double. He moved up on Brian Barden's grounder and scored on Jason LaRue's single to make it 3-2.

Stavinoha came up with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh but Todd Coffey, who replaced starter Manny Parra (3-6), struck him out to end the threat.

Stavinoha, who hit his first career homer in Tuesday night's 8-1 win, has seven RBIs in his last six games and hit cleanup on Wednesday with teams continuing to work around Albert Pujols.

Pujols was 0 for 2 with two strikeouts and two walks. He's had one hit in his last 10 at-bats and has been walked 12 times in his last six games.

Milwaukee tied it at 2 in the fourth on Frank Catalanotto's two-out, two-run triple off Wellemeyer.

Catalanotto, called up Monday, was making his first start since being cut at the end of spring training by the Rangers in favor of Andruw Jones.

But that was the only damage against Wellemeyer, who lowered his ERA to 5.02. He left after 5 1-3 innings and Trever Miller, Chris Perez, Jason Motte, Dennys Reyes and Franklin allowed just two hits the rest of the way.

Notes:@ Both the Cardinals and Brewers have Thursday off. ... LaRue was nearly dead meat when he accidentally stepped in front of the Racing Sausages during the Miller Park tradition before the bottom of the sixth inning. LaRue hopped out of the way just in time. ... Ludwick (hamstring) is expected to be activated from the DL on Friday. ... Ankiel played on Sunday against Kansas City, but didn't appear in the series against the Brewers. ... Brewers RF Corey Hart and 3B Bill Hall, both struggling, had the day off.