Pineiro lifts Cardinals past reeling Brewers

MILWAUKEE -- The St. Louis Cardinals’ deal for Joel Pineiro didn’t make much of a ripple at the trade deadline, but it’s beginning to look like a key move that could help push the team back into contention in the National League Central.

Pineiro (2-1), acquired in a trade with Boston on July 31, gave up two runs and five hits in seven innings as the Cardinals beat the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers, 8-3, Wednesday night.

“When your starting pitching is out there shutting guys down, everybody thinks, ‘Hey, we’ve got something going here. We’ve got a chance to win,’ ” Cardinals Manager Tony La Russa said.

Albert Pujols hit his 275th career home run and Scott Rolen had his ninth career game of four hits or more as the Cardinals closed within 3 1/2 games of the division-leading Brewers. St. Louis remains in third place in the NL Central but will go for a three-game sweep of Milwaukee today.

Jim Edmonds also homered -- his first since June 9 -- before leaving the game in the bottom of the seventh because of a sore leg that La Russa described as “an ouch.”