Cardinals 5, Brewers 1: Matt Adams hit a two-run homer to cap a four-run eighth inning as host St. Louis rallied for its fifth straight win and improved to 12-3 against Milwaukee this season.

Matt Carpenter and Matt Holliday added two hits apiece and Carlos Beltran and Daniel Descalso each drove in a run for the Cardinals, who maintained a one-game lead over Pittsburgh in the National League Central. Trevor Rosenthal (2-3) worked a scoreless eighth inning for the win.

Norichika Aoki and Scooter Gennett each had two of Milwaukee's six hits as the Brewers were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left six men on base. Brewers starter Marco Estrada was charged with one run on two hits over 6 2/3 innings and left with a 1-0 lead, but the bullpen couldn't hold it.

The Brewers manufactured a run in the second as Carlos Gomez and Gennett pulled off a double steal and catcher Tony Cruz's throw ended up in center field, allowing Gomez to score. That was all they got against starter Lance Lynn, who struck out 10 and allowed five hits over six innings.

The Cardinals didn't record a hit until Carpenter lined a single off Estrada's right ankle with two outs in the sixth. Descalso greeted reliever Brandon Kintzler (3-2) by punching a single inside the bag at third to score Holliday and forge a tie in the seventh. Beltran's sacrifice fly gave St. Louis a 2-1 lead and sparked the eighth-inning outburst.

GAME NOTEBOOK: St. Louis C Yadier Molina and brother Bengie, the Cardinals' assistant hitting coach, missed the game because of what manager Mike Matheny described as a "family personal matter." … Cardinals starting pitchers have not allowed an earned run in the past four games. … Milwaukee LF Khris Davis missed his fifth straight game with a sore left wrist. He was able to hit in the cage and might be able to play Thursday.