Braun adds two more HRs in 8-3 victory over Redbirds

MILWAUKEE -- The St. Louis Cardinals have seen just about enough of Milwaukee Brewers slugger Ryan Braun over the past two days.

Catcher Yadier Molina and manager Tony La Russa managed to see a few innings less than everyone else Monday.

Braun hit two home runs for the second game in a row, and Molina and La Russa were ejected for arguing balls and strikes shortly after the second of Braun's two blasts in the Milwaukee Brewers' 8-3 victory.

For Braun, it was another sign that he's beginning to regain the form that made him NL Rookie of the Year last season.

"I feel the game slow down a little bit," Braun said. "I feel like I see pitches longer -- and bigger."

Braun followed up Sunday's two-homer performance by hitting two more off stingy Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright (3-2), who had given up four runs or less in his first seven starts and had a 2.25 ERA going into the game.

"The thing about him is if you make tough pitches, you hold him to singles or you get him out," Wainwright said. "You make bad pitches, he hits home runs."

Braun did just that with solo shots in the first and the fifth -- and the second might have added to the frustration that got Molina and La Russa tossed later in the inning.

With one out, Braun clobbered a 2-1 pitch from Wainwright into the Brewers' bullpen in left field. After Prince Fielder struck out, Corey Hart came to the plate and took a borderline pitch low and outside for a ball.

Molina complained about the call and was ejected by home plate umpire Paul Schrieber as La Russa was walking out of the dugout.

"Everything was OK," Molina said. "It was that pitch. I asked him where it was. He didn't like it, and he threw me out."

Molina protested his ejection by taking off his gear and leaving it in a pile at Schrieber's feet.

"That was awesome," Wainwright said. "If you're going to get tossed, you might as well make it a good one. That was one of the better ones I've seen."

La Russa continued to argue and eventually was thrown out himself.

"I thought it was really unfair because Yadier has got a reputation for being as respectful and as professional out there," La Russa said. "He questions one breaking ball, and then the next one he questioned, and he said, 'That's far enough.' I don't understand how he could be so impatient with a guy who has established that he's a real pro."

Speaking of reputations, Braun is beginning to show that last year was no fluke.

"Yesterday showed it," Yost said. "Today confirmed it."

Milwaukee's bullpen, however, remains a serious question mark for a team that still considers itself a playoff contender.