The Cardinals scored six runs in the second inning against lefty Gio Gonzalez and sped away for a 12-2 victory Monday night at Miller Park. The Cardinals won for the 14th time in 17 games and widened their lead on the Brewers to 5 1/2 games. The first-place Cardinals have a three-game lead on the second-place Cubs. The Cardinals have won seven of their last eight games against the Brewers, and it could have been eight consecutive if not for the rain-shortened loss this past week at Busch Stadium.
In the first inning, Yadier Molina started the Cardinals scoring with a two-run single that brought home his 900th and 901st RBIs of his career.