Villar, Yelich homer in Brewers' 8-3 win over Cardinals

MILWAUKEE — Jonathan Villar and Christian Yelich homered, while Ryan Braun had three hits to lead the Milwaukee Brewers to an 8-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday.

Milwaukee starter Brent Suter (5-3) allowed three runs in five innings, but hit a two-run double in the fourth that gave Milwaukee a 4-0 lead. Milwaukee won for the 10th time in 12 games.

St. Louis starter Luke Weaver (3-5) lost his third consecutive start, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts in four innings.

The Brewers were shut out 5-0 by the Mets on Thursday. Since then, they've scored 37 runs in four games, all victories.

Milwaukee broke open the game in the seventh inning. With two outs and Yelich on second, the Cardinals intentionally walked Braun to face Villar. The second baseman hit the second pitch from Brent Cecil into the Milwaukee bullpen for an 8-3 lead.

Yelich hit his sixth homer, singled, stole two bases and scored twice.

Braun, dropped to fifth from his customary third spot in the lineup, went 3 for 3 with a double, two singles and an intentional walk while scoring three times. It was the first time Braun batted lower than fourth in the lineup since Sept. 23, 2014 at Cincinnati, when he was batting fifth.

Manager Craig Counsell said before the game he dropped Braun in the lineup due to the hot hitting of Jesus Aguilar, who hit third after coming into the game batting .325 with nine home runs and 30 RBI.

Yairo Munoz hit his first major-league homer in the fifth, a two-run shot, and Matt Carpenter hit his sixth, a solo shot, later in the inning to pull the Cardinals within 4-3.