Cards Extend Streak to 8

The Cardinals were 4-3 winners over the Brewers last night to win extend their winning streak to eight games. Tino Martinez got the scoring started with his 18th home run of the season in the second inning. Starter Andy Benes allowed a run in the 3rd inning as Milwaukee tied it up. Edgar Renteria and Mike Matheny drove in runs in the 4th to give the Cards a 3-1 lead, but Milwaukee battled back again with two in the fifth to tie it up for the second time. But Miguel Cairo’s bloop single in the seventh, scored Matheny for the eventual 4-3 final. Benes lasted 5 and a third and was not a part of the decision. Jeff Fassero was the winner in relief. Jason Isringhausen got the save, his 29th of the year. St. Louis extended it’s lead to 6 and a half games over the Astros in the NL Central. A four game series in Houston begins tonight. Reliever Mike Mathews has been sent to Milwaukee. He was the player to be named later in the Jamey Wright trade.