Brewers pile it on in 11th

ST. LOUIS -- Jose Hernandez hit a bloop single with the bases loaded in the 11th inning, and the Milwaukee Brewers padded the lead with four more runs in a 7-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday night.

The Brewers, who took two of three in the series, tied it at 2 in the ninth on Paul Bako's two-out, two-run single off St. Louis closer Jason Isringhausen. Pinch-hitter Matt Stairs singled with one out, and Hernandez doubled with two outs before Bako's hit off Isringhausen, who had his second blown save in 18 chances.

The Cardinals have lost five of six during the tumult surrounding the deaths of longtime broadcaster Jack Buck and pitcher Darryl Kile.

Gene Stechschulte (6-2) walked the bases full with none out in the 11th before Hernandez singled to right off Steve Kline for his third hit of the game. Hernandez was 7-for-12 with two RBIs in the series.

Pinch-hitter Ronnie Belliard added a two-run single, and Eric Young had a two-run double, both off Mike Timlin.

Luis Vizcaino (5-1) allowed one hit in two innings for the Brewers, who won for just the second time in nine extra-inning games. They had been outscored 11-2 in extra innings before Thursday.

Cardinals starter Bud Smith, who pitched a no-hitter against the Padres last September, remained winless in seven starts. Smith gave up five hits in five-plus scoreless innings with four walks, lowering his ERA to 6.68.

The Cardinals got three straight hits with one out in the fourth off Ruben Quevedo to take a 2-0 lead. Albert Pujols reached on an infield single, and Eduardo Perez singled before Edgar Renteria's two-run double.

Quevedo lasted six innings, giving up two runs on six hits. He's 0-1 in his last five starts.

Noteworthy

Former St. Louis Blues star Bernie Federko, elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame last week, threw out the first pitch.

Tyler Houston of the Brewers, who was 24-for-42 (.571) during an 11-game hitting streak, took a called third strike as a pinch-hitter to end his run.

In Smith's last four starts, the Cardinals have four runs.