McGehee's three home runs power Brewers

This is how you respond to a challenge from a fierce divisional rival that wants to see if you're up to it.

You don't intentionally throw at the opposing hitters. You don't woof about their fans or insist your particular brand of justice is the gospel according to baseball. You don't accuse them of cheating.

You go out and beat that team, soundly if you can.

"We don't have time for fighting and talking," said Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Casey McGehee. "We've got more important things to do here. We're going to go out and play baseball."

That's what the Brewers did Wednesday afternoon at Miller Park, riding three home runs and five runs batted in by McGehee to a 10-5 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

It was the capper of an 8-1 home stand for the first-place Brewers, who opened a 3½-game lead over the Cards, as opposed to the 1½-game margin that would have resulted from a St. Louis victory.

"It's a huge difference," said left-hander Randy Wolf, who struggled through six innings (nine hits, five runs) but was picked up by his teammates. "They're a really good team; they're really good offensively this year.

"When they scored, for us to come right back was huge. We did that today. We had good at-bats, took extra bases and did everything right, especially on the offensive side.

"It was fun to watch Casey have a game like he did. Casey really carried us."

The Brewers brushed aside the shenanigans from the previous night, when the Cardinals intentionally drilled Ryan Braun because Albert Pujols was hit on the wrist by a pitch. Worse yet, the Brewers allowed several opportunities to win that game slip away, eventually bowing, 8-7, in 11 innings.

It was letting that game get away that bothered the Brewers more than Tony La Russa's infamous form of retribution. They were determined to focus on the game and not get distracted by gamesmanship.

To attempt to end the hostilities, umpire crew chief Gary Darling summoned La Russa and Brewers manager Ron Roenicke to home plate for the pregame lineup exchange, a formality usually handled by coaches.

"He just basically told us, 'Let's just play baseball,' " said Roenicke, who was confident his team would do exactly that.

It didn't look good early, when a three-run first inning capped by McGehee's two-run homer was erased by a three-run homer by new Cardinals shortstop Rafael Furcal in the second. Undaunted, the Brewers took the lead for good on McGehee's two-run shot in the third inning.

"They came out right away swinging the bat, as we did," said Roenicke. "I expected it was going to be a high-scoring game."

While it was Roenicke's intent to get Wolf through six innings somehow, much more was asked of St. Louis starter Edwin Jackson with the Cardinals' bullpen more than a bit arm-weary. Jackson took one for the team, surrendering 14 hits and 10 runs (eight earned), including all three of McGehee's home runs, over seven innings.

"I've seen Edwin both where you couldn't touch him and when you could get to him," said Roenicke, referring to his coaching days with the Los Angeles Angels.

"I don't know what the reasons are because it always seems like he has good stuff."

Not so much this time. Beyond McGehee's three-homer barrage, the Brewers enjoyed two-hit games from Corey Hart, who led off the first with a homer, as well as Nyjer Morgan, Felipe Lopez and Braun en route to a 15-hit day.

Roenicke was impressed with the way his hitters kept the pressure on Jackson and how his bullpen took over for Wolf and discouraged any notion the Cardinals might have of mounting a comeback.

"I think we turned the page really well," said Roenicke. "That shows a lot of character, when you're always answering back."

Answering back has been a bit easier lately, especially with McGehee and shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt making strides toward shaking free of ugly first-half slumps.

"We've got a lot of work left to do, but I feel like I'm on the right track," said McGehee. "Hopefully, we can keep it going. I feel like the guys here still have confidence in me and are pulling for me and wanting me to get back to what I'm capable of doing."

With nine games remaining between these teams, this thing is really just getting going. By winning the opening salvo, however, the Brewers served notice that they're up to the challenge.

"Anytime they know we're going to play them tough, coming off (Tuesday) night's tough loss, to turn around and play a great game, they're looking at us and saying, 'Hey, these guys are going to battle us. We're not going to be able to slip in there and get an easy win,' "