Molina puts on show in Cardinals' 7-3 win

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina received two awards for his defense before Saturday's game with the Milwaukee Brewers. It was his offense that stole the show.

Molina went 4 for 4 with a two-run homer to lead the Cardinals to a 7-3 win over Milwaukee. Molina has 10 four-hit games in his career. The last came May 22, 2011, against Kansas City.

He always has been known for his defense as evidenced by the pregame presentation of his fourth consecutive Rawlings Gold Glove as a catcher and the inaugural Rawlings Platinum Glove awarded to the game's best overall fielder. He now has become a force offensively as well. He hit .305 with 14 homers and 65 RBIs last season, all career highs.

But Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said Molina still knows what is most important

"I know where he stacks his priorities," Matheny said. "His first responsibility is taking care of his pitching staff and doing what he needs to behind the plate. It's almost like a separate personality when he grabs the bat. It's two different games for him."

The multi-hit game was the eighth for Molina this season. His home run to left field off Milwaukee starter Marco Estrada (0-1) broke a 3-3 tie with one out in the sixth and earned him a curtain call.

"It's nice," Molina said. "When you got the best fans in baseball screaming your name, it makes you feel good."

Molina wasn't too excited about his performance beyond that.

"It feels good to get the win," he said. "I don't look at my stats. I look at the end of the game. We got the win. That's a good day."

Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke has seen Molina have plenty of those.

"I'm seeing the same guy," Roenicke said. "He killed us last year. He battles you. He's very hard to strike out."

Cardinals starter Kyle Lohse also battled.

Lohse, who entered the game with a 0.99 ERA, tripled his walk total for the season by allowing four base on balls. He gave up six hits and three runs while striking out five.

He is 4-0 for the first time, and the Cardinals have won three straight to extend their lead over the Brewers to five games in the NL Central.

"It was one of those struggles," Lohse said. "I didn't have the command I've had. I made pitches when I had to, but I wasn't quite as sharp as I've been."

Cardinals third baseman David Freese celebrated his 29th birthday with a solo home run. Freese has a hit in 15 of the 17 games he's started and has driven in 20 runs.

Jon Jay had three hits, including an RBI single, and a stolen base in the win.

Estrada gave up five runs, four earned, with two walks and two strikeouts over six innings. Aramis Ramirez and Alex Gonzalez had solo home runs for the Brewers.

"I felt pretty good," Estrada said. "They're a good hitting team. They capitalized on the mistakes I made."

Lohse had not allowed a run in the first five innings of any of his previous four starts before Saturday. Ramirez ended that streak when he hit a 396-foot home run into the right-center field bleachers with one out in the fourth to make it 2-1.

Freese answered that with a 407-foot shot to the same area to lead off the bottom of the inning.