Tyler O’Neill and Lars Nootbaar hit back-to-back home runs in a five-run fifth inning to help the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 8-4 on Thursday night.
Nolan Arenado also drove in a pair of runs as St. Louis erased a three-run deficit to avoid a three-game sweep
Jon Lester allowed four runs on six hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings. He was knocked to his knees in the first inning when Christian Yelich lined a ball off his right calf, but he was able to remain in the game.
Junior Fernández (1-0) picked up the win in relief.
LHP Kwang Hyun Kim (left elbow inflammation) allowed a pair of solo home runs and threw 34 pitches for Triple-A Memphis in a two-inning rehabilitation start.
RHP Miles Mikolas (0-0, 2.25 ERA) will be activated off the injured list to make his second start of the season at home to open a three-game series against Pittsburgh on Friday night, 6:20 with the pregame and the first pitch at 7:15 on KIRX.
First place Milwaukee leads second place Cincinnati by 8 1/2, the third place Cardinals are 11 games back.
In the wild card chase, the first place Dodgers have a 9 1/2 game lead over number two San Diego, the Reds are one game behind, the Cardinals are 3 1/2 out.