Wainwright carries Cardinals past Brewers

MILWAUKEE - Adam Wainwright came within two outs of his first career shutout, and Ryan Ludwick and Colby Rasmus homered for the St. Louis Cardinals in a 5-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers last night.

The 27-year-old right-hander settled down after working out of bases-loaded jam in the second and didn't allow a hit after the fourth inning until Casey McGehee's infield hit leading off the ninth.

Wainwright (9-5) allowed seven hits, struck out nine and walked two before being lifted for Ryan Franklin, who induced Jason Kendall to hit into a double play on his second pitch.

It was the fourth time this season Milwaukee has been shut out and the third time in the past nine games.

Yovani Gallardo (8-6) allowed four runs and six hits, walked five and struck out five in five innings.

Coming into the game, Wainwright had allowed two runs and seven hits in 15 innings in his previous two starts this season against Milwaukee.

Gallardo, who leads the Brewers with eight victories, failed to go at least seven innings for the first time in five starts. He dropped to 0-2 in four career starts against St. Louis.

The Cardinals staked Wainwright to a 3-0 lead in the first on Ludwick's three-run homer, and added two more on Rasmus' homer leading off the fifth.

Ludwick hit his 12th homer of the season after Rasmus singled and Albert Pujols walked as Gallardo threw 37 pitches in the first.

Rasmus, the majors' rookie leader in home runs and RBI, knocked in his 33rd run with his 11th homer. He added a run-scoring double off reliever Chris Narveson in the sixth.

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