Brewers batter Cardinals pitchers

Published Saturday, July 28, 2007

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Claudio Vargas’ longest outing in four years produced a victory and put the Milwaukee Brewers’ staff in good shape for a tough weekend.

Vargas worked eight innings and was backed by a 19-hit attack in a 12-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals last night. Brewers starters lasted five and 51/3 innings the previous two games.

"I feel really good because we’ve got a doubleheader tomorrow and they really needed the starter to go deep in the game," Vargas said. "And I did."

Corey Hart homered, doubled and singled, Kevin Mench matched his career high with four hits and Tony Graffanino had three RBI. The Brewers won for only the third time in their last 11 road games and took a three-game lead in the National League Central over the Cubs.

Milwaukee is 5-1 against the Cardinals this year, outscoring them 35-5 in the last four games, and rebounded nicely after dropping three of four at Cincinnati.

"When things go a little bit south, they find ways to bounce back and make good things happen," Manager Ned Yost said. "That’s the thing I enjoy so much about these young kids.

"They don’t panic like some people, they stay steady in their approach, and keep plugging away."

Mike Maroth (0-4) surrendered seven runs and 11 hits and exited after facing one batter in the fifth for the Cardinals, who have dropped three of the first four in a crucial seven-game homestand against the top two teams in the NL Central.

Maroth has a 9.20 ERA in six starts with the starter-starved Cardinals, and in his last three has been particularly horrendous, allowing 23 earned runs and 31 hits in only 14 innings, although he’ll stay in the rotation for now. Manager Tony La Russa said the coaches determined in the first inning that Maroth was tipping his pitches.

"I don’t care what your location is, it makes it impossible to get guys out," La Russa said. "You can’t just automatically fix it, but it will give him a better chance."

Vargas (9-2) won his third straight start, striking out eight and walking one. He allowed two runs and nine hits, striking out the side in the seventh.

The Brewers, who entered with an NL-worst .228 average since the All-Star break, batted around in a five-run third that featured a season-high seven hits. They battered Maroth before and after a 39-minute rain delay in the third, with four hits before the delay and three more when the inning resumed.

"I really don’t know what to say," Maroth said.

Milwaukee batted around again two innings later, scoring four times.