It is sometimes said you can’t tell the players without a scorecard.  A scorecard didn’t help much at Busch Stadium on Sunday as the St. Louis Cardinals wrapped up a rain abbreviated two game series with the Milwaukee Brewers, downing Milwaukee 10-2.  All players on both teams donned the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson on the 60th anniversary of his Major League debut that broke baseball’s color barrier.

The Brewers, who took the opening game on Saturday following Friday’s rainout, struck first in the 1st inning, scoring twice on three hits against Redbirds’ starter Braden Looper. 

The Cards bounced back in the bottom of the 1st.  David Eckstein led off with a single.  Chris Duncan then lofted a high fly ball that got lost in the clouds and fell to the ground just beyond the infield dirt between second and third base.  That set the stage for Albert Pujols who belted his second home run of the season, a 391 foot blast into the Milwaukee bullpen in left field.

The Cardinals picked up a fourth run in the 4th inning when Preston Wilson, who made it to first base on a Tony Graffanino throwing error, came home from third on a fielder’s choice when Looper hit a soft ground ball fielded by Graffanino who retired the Redbirds’ starter at first base.

Chris Duncan, who had singled twice, led off the Cardinals half of the 5th with a home run to the Redbirds’ bullpen, giving St. Louis a 5-2 lead.

Then came the Cardinals’ 6th, when the wheels fell off for the Brewers.  The Cards scored their first of three runs in the inning when starter Ben Sheets hit pinch hitter Scott Spiezio with the bases loaded and nobody out.  That brought home Preston Wilson, who had led off the inning with a walk.  David Eckstein’s sacrifice fly to left scored Adam Kennedy, who had singled.  Yadier Molina, who had reached on a walk, ended the St. Louis scoring on an Albert Pujols’ ground ball to first.  Chris Duncan picked up a single in the 6th, giving him his first career 4 hit game.

The scoring wasn’t over for the Cardinals.  They scored their ninth run of the day when Preston Wilson, who had doubled, scored on an Adam Kennedy single in the 7th inning.

Albert Pujols then capped the Redbirds’ scoring in the 8th inning with a solo shot that traveled 414 feet for his second round tripper of the day.

Looper (2-1) pitched 6 innings for the win.  Sheets (1-2) takes the loss.

With the win, the Cardinals go back above the .500 mark for the season, with a record of 6 wins and 5 losses.

The Cardinals next game is Monday night at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates.