Jake Westbrook hit his first major league home run and it was a grand slam. That along with his five innings pitched, led the Cardinals to an 8-3 win over the Brewers Wednesday night at Miller Park.

“It’s pretty special,” Westbrook said. “To go back and say you hit a grand slam in the big leagues, it’s a lot of fun. I’m still not that great of a hitter.” Of the last four pitchers to hit grand slams in the major leagues, three have been Cardinals.

Westbrook (11-7) tossed five innings, and his slam in the fourth gave St. Louis a 6-2 lead.

Rafael Furcal led off the game with a homer and Albert Pujols followed two batters later with his NL leading 32nd off Milwaukee starter Randy Wolf.

The Cardinals cut the lead to 8.5 games over Milwaukee with 26 to play.