Braun hits 350th career home run, Brewers beat Cardinals 6-0 in Game 2 of doubleheader

MILWAUKEE — Brent Suter and three relievers combined on a two-hitter, Ryan Braun hit his 350th career homer and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-0 Wednesday night to split a doubleheader.

The Cardinals took the opener 4-2 behind Adam Wainwright’s four-hitter.

St. Louis manager Mike Shildt ran the team in the opener. He missed the nightcap while serving a one-game suspension, imposed by Major League Baseball after tempers flared during the Brewers’ 18-3 romp Tuesday night.

Umpires warned both teams after Braun was hit by a pitch in the fifth inning. He was the third Milwaukee batter plunked in the game — he was at the center of the trouble the previous night when he hit Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina in the wrist during a swing.

The Brewers scored four runs in the first inning on just one hit, the three-run homer by Braun.

Suter allowed two hits over three scoreless innings, walking two and striking out three. Freddy Peralta (3-1) followed with two perfect innings, striking out three. Devin Williams struck out two in a perfect sixth, and Eric Yardley retired the side in the seventh.

Jacob Nottingham’s third homer, a two-run shot in the sixth, put the Brewers up 6-0.

Johan Oviedo (0-3), activated off the injured list earlier in the day after passing a rapid test for COVID-19, allowed six runs in 5 1/3 innings. He hit three batters with pitches.

UP NEXT

Cards: RHP Dakota Hudson (3-2, 2.92 ERA) opens the five-game series Thursday at Pittsburgh, which includes two games on Friday, the Cardinals’ third doubleheader of the week. Hudson has won his last three starts. He allowed one run on one hit in six innings in his last outing, although he walked four.

Brewers: After a day off, RHP Adrian Houser (1-5, 5.40 ERA) opens the three-game series Friday at home against Kansas City. Houser, 1-0 with a 0.75 ERA in his first two starts, is 0-5 with a 7.01 ERA over his last seven starts.