This was a first for Tony La Russa, who was managing for the 5,000th time in his career. And it had nothing to do with the game.
St. Louis managed just six hits off Chris Narveson and the Milwaukee Brewers shut out the Cardinals 8-0 on Friday night despite a small fire in the ballpark.
“No kidding? I hadn’t seen that one,” La Russa said. “I wasn’t sure what it was.”
St. Louis has lost two of three and could fall out of first place in the NL Central if the Brewers can sweep this weekend series.
“You lose, you’re disappointed. If you win, you’re excited,” La Russa said. “It is a very simple life. We are disappointed.”
La Russa was honored with an announcement before the game and tipped his cap to a warm ovation. He also discussed a call in the fourth inning with first-base umpire Angel Campos, but never came close to being tossed.
The 66-year-old La Russa is 2,676-2,320-4 with two World Series titles in 33 seasons with the White Sox, Athletics and Cardinals. Only Connie Mack has managed more games in major league history — 7,755 over 53 years.
“Five-thousand is unbelievable for a manager,” Brewers first-year manager Ron Roenicke said. “He’s not just hanging around. He’s winning a lot. He has with different organizations. It is pretty incredible. That is really hard to think about a guy being around that long and manage that many games.”
The accomplishment wasn’t lost on his players. Starter Kyle Lohse (7-3) was 10 months old when La Russa took over the White Sox in 1979.
“It is pretty awesome that he has been able to accomplish that. It was pretty cool to get to start that game,” Lohse said. “Unfortunately I didn’t give us a chance. It would have been nice to let him win that game. He is great at what he does. It has been fun to play for him.”
Instead, the Brewers chased Lohse after five innings. Lohse has lost five straight to Milwaukee and hasn’t won in Miller Park for six years.
“It was a rough one. I threw a lot of pitches around the zone. I just wasn’t accurate enough,” Lohse said. “That is a tough team to keep falling behind guys on. You’re going to pay for mistakes when you leave the ball up over the plate.”
Narveson, let go by the Cardinals after the 2007 season, was sharp throughout after going 0-1 with a 10.66 ERA in his previous three starts. He only had more than one baserunner in the eighth and he sprinted off the mound after striking out Jon Jay to end the threat.
“We liked him when we had him,” La Russa said. “He pitched well.”
Ryan Braun and Corey Hart homered for the Brewers, who are a major league-best 23-9 at home. Hart’s homer came off Ryan Franklin just as thick, sweet-smelling smoke wafted down from a concession stand’s malfunctioning popcorn machine onto the field of play. No one was hurt in the fire and a small section of the Miller Park roof was opened on a chilly, 52-degree night to help clear the air.
By then, it was the only interesting thing happening on a sluggish night for the Cardinals, who trailed big and never figured out Narveson. Tim Dillard got three outs to finish the six-hitter.
“Anytime you can shut down our offense, you must have been doing something good,” Lohse said.
NOTES: Cardinals 1B Albert Pujols singled in the fourth to extend his hitting streak to eight games. … The Cardinals recalled RHP Mitchell Boggs and optioned RHP Lance Lynn to Triple-A Memphis. Lynn made two starts, going 1-1 with a 5.23 ERA. … Former Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda was on the field before the game chatting with La Russa. … St. Louis was shut out for the third time this season.

Updated Jun 11, 2011 12:07 AM ET

MILWAUKEE (AP)

Chris Narveson needed to beat a top team to restore his confidence after a string of poor outings. The fact that it was the franchise that gave up on him was simply a bonus.

Narveson scattered six hits over eight innings and the Milwaukee Brewers kept rolling at home even after a small fire in the ballpark, beating the St. Louis Cardinals 8-0 on Friday night.

”I think you always need an outing like this,” Narveson said. ”It’s definitely a good feeling to be able to go out there and just go out and get back to base one and get yourself set.”

Narveson (3-4) began his career as a Cardinals draft pick, but he’s being counted on to play an important role in Milwaukee’s rotation as the fifth starter after having no competition in spring training.

”It was huge for me to see it,” Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. ”When I see things, I see things as I want him to get it going, not so much what the outcome of the game is. I know we’re going to need him.”

Tony La Russa managed his 5,000th game for the Cardinals, but even he saw something new – a fire in a ballpark after smoke billowed in right field from a concession stand’s malfunctioning popcorn machine in the sixth.

”No kidding? I hadn’t seen that one,” La Russa said. ”I wasn’t sure what it was.”

Ryan Braun and Corey Hart homered as Milwaukee improved to 23-9 at home, the best mark in the majors. The Brewers could take first place in the NL Central from the Cardinals with a three-game sweep of this weekend series.

”I think that’s the last thing on anybody’s minds right now, we just want to go out there, play hard, play to win and whatever happens happens,” Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy said. ”If we play up to our potential we can beat anybody out there.”

The Brewers got off to a solid start by roughing up Kyle Lohse (7-3) and chasing him after five innings. Lohse has lost five straight to Milwaukee and hasn’t won in Miller Park for six years.

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BREWERS 8, CARDINALS 0

MILWAUKEE — Ryan Braun and Corey Hart homered, Chris Narveson threw eight innings and Milwaukee kept rolling at home despite a small fire in the ballpark in a win over St. Louis Friday night.

Narveson (3-4) began his career as a Cardinals draft pick, but he’s played an important role in Milwaukee’s rotation and stymied his former team after losing to St. Louis on May 8.

Braun’s two-run homer made it 4-0 in the fifth and Hart hit a solo shot to start the sixth just as smoke started to billow in right field from a concession stand’s malfunctioning popcorn machine.

Tony La Russa managed his 5,000th game for the Cardinals, but there was little to cheer.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Mets 8, Pirates 1 at Pittsburgh: Rookie Dillon Gee remained undefeated, Jose Reyes homered among his three hits and New York won for the fifth time in six games, over Pittsburgh.

Marlins 6, Diamondbacks 4 at Miami: Logan Morrison and Mike Stanton each hit a two-run homer and Florida snapped an eight-game losing streak with a victory over Arizona.

Phillies 7, Cubs 5 at Philadelphia: Roy Halladay tossed seven masterful innings to become the first nine-game winner in the majors, Placido Polanco hit a grand slam as Philadelphia held on to beat Chicago.

Braves 11, Astros 4 at Houston: Freddie Freeman and Alex Gonzalez homered on back-to-back pitches during Atlanta’s four-run third inning and the Braves pounded Houston for their fourth consecutive victory.

Rockies 6, Dodgers 5 at Denver: Jhoulys Chacin pitched eight shutout innings and Colorado pounded Chad Billingsley for 13 hits in a victory over Los Angeles Dodgers.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Mariners 3, Tigers 2 at Detroit: Carlos Peguero homered and tripled starting in place of Ichiro Suzuki in right field, as Seattle beat Detroit.

Red Sox 5, Blue Jays 1 at Toronto: Clay Buchholz allowed three hits over seven innings, Jacoby Ellsbury went 3 for 5 with three runs scored and Boston beat Toronto, the Red Sox’s seventh straight win to match their season high.

Yankees 11, Indians 7 at New York: Alex Rodriguez hit a colossal home run, Curtis Granderson also connected and New York got back on track with a victory over skidding Cleveland in a game that quickly grew testy.

Orioles 7, Rays 0 at Baltimore: Nick Markakis broke a prolonged power slump with a grand slam and a two-run double, Jake Arrieta took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and surging Baltimore beat Tampa Bay.

Rangers 9, Twins 3 at Minneapolis: Michael Young had three hits and three RBIs, Adrian Beltre added two hits and drove in two, and Texas beat Minnesota.

Athletics 7, White Sox 5 at Chicago: Scott Sizemore hit a go-ahead three-run double in the ninth inning to rally Oakland past Chicago, ending a 10-game losing streak.

Chris Narveson needed to beat a top team to restore his confidence after a string of poor outings. The fact that it was the franchise that gave up on him was simply a bonus.
Narveson scattered six hits over eight innings and the Milwaukee Brewers kept rolling at home even after a small fire in the ballpark, beating the St. Louis Cardinals 8-0 on Friday night.
“I think you always need an outing like this,” Narveson said. “It’s definitely a good feeling to be able to go out there and just go out and get back to base one and get yourself set.”
Narveson (3-4) began his career as a Cardinals draft pick, but he’s being counted on to play an important role in Milwaukee’s rotation as the fifth starter after having no competition in spring training.
“It was huge for me to see it,” Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. “When I see things, I see things as I want him to get it going, not so much what the outcome of the game is. I know we’re going to need him.”
Tony La Russa managed his 5,000th game for the Cardinals, but even he saw something new — a fire in a ballpark after smoke billowed in right field from a concession stand’s malfunctioning popcorn machine in the sixth.
“No kidding? I hadn’t seen that one,” La Russa said. “I wasn’t sure what it was.”
Ryan Braun and Corey Hart homered as Milwaukee improved to 23-9 at home, the best mark in the majors. The Brewers could take first place in the NL Central from the Cardinals with a three-game sweep of this weekend series.
“I think that’s the last thing on anybody’s minds right now, we just want to go out there, play hard, play to win and whatever happens happens,” Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy said. “If we play up to our potential we can beat anybody out there.”
The Brewers got off to a solid start by roughing up Kyle Lohse (7-3) and chasing him after five innings. Lohse has lost five straight to Milwaukee and hasn’t won in Miller Park for six years.
Not many other teams have, either.
Milwaukee dropped two of three against the Mets in its previous series, but has not lost consecutive games at home this season even without a big hit by Prince Fielder, who went 0 for 1 with two walks and a hit by pitch.
“I think the big thing is it’s not going to be Prince and Braun every night,” Craig Counsell said. “Those guys have really carried us offensively this year.”
Narveson was sharp throughout after going 0-1 with a 10.66 ERA in his previous three starts. He only had more than one baserunner in the eighth and he sprinted off the mound after striking out Jon Jay to end the threat.
“I think it’s a good start to the series and a good thing for him personally just being able to go out and get that confidence knowing that he can put away teams like that, of that caliber,” Lucroy said.
Counsell tripled in the third, then slid headfirst around the tag of catcher Yadier Molina on Narveson’s safety squeeze. Nyjer Morgan followed with a sacrifice fly two batters later to give the Brewers a 2-0 lead.
Lohse got out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth, but wouldn’t be so lucky against Braun, who drove a pitch the opposite way for his 14th homer this season in the fifth.
Hart followed with his homer and Rickie Weeks singled in a run off reliever Ryan Franklin as thick, sweet smelling smoke wafted down from the second deck to the first level and field of play. No one was hurt in the fire and a small section of the Miller Park roof on a chilly, 52-degree night was opened to help clear the air.
“You know when you’re around camp fires and there’s almost a burning in your eyes, that’s what it was like,” said Hart, the right fielder. “It helped us more, though, because we had the lead.”
NOTES: Cardinals 1B Albert Pujols singled in the fourth to extend his hitting streak to eight games. … The Cardinals recalled RHP Mitchell Boggs and optioned RHP Lance Lynn to Triple-A Memphis. Lynn made two starts, going 1-1 with a 5.23 ERA. … Former Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda was on the field before the game chatting with La Russa. … Brewers RHP Takashi Saito (oblique) is scheduled to pitch a rehab assignment at Class-A Wisconsin on Sunday.

Ryan Braun and Corey Hart homered, Chris Narveson threw eight innings and the Milwaukee Brewers kept rolling at home despite a small fire in the ballpark in an 8-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night.

Narveson (3-4) began his career as a Cardinals draft pick, but he’s played an important role in Milwaukee’s rotation and stymied his former team after losing to St. Louis on May 8.

Braun’s two-run homer made it 4-0 in the fifth and Hart hit a solo shot to start the sixth just as smoke started to billow in right field from a concession stand’s malfunctioning popcorn machine.

Tony La Russa managed his 5,000th game for the Cardinals, but there was little he could have liked from this one after St. Louis managed just six hits.

Milwaukee improved to 23-9 at home, the best mark in the majors, and could take first place in the NL Central from the Cardinals with a three-game sweep of this weekend series.

The Brewers got off to a solid start by roughing up Kyle Lohse (7-3) and chasing him after five innings. Lohse has lost five straight to Milwaukee and hasn’t won in Miller Park for six years.

Not many other teams have, either. Milwaukee dropped two of three against the Mets in its previous series, but has not lost consecutive games at home this season.

Narveson was sharp throughout after going 0-1 with a 10.66 ERA in his previous three starts. He only had more than one baserunner in the eighth and he sprinted off the mound after striking out Jon Jay to end the threat.

Craig Counsell tripled in the third, then slid headfirst around the tag of catcher Yadier Molina on Narveson’s safety squeeze. Nyjer Morgan followed with a sacrifice fly two batters later to give the Brewers a 2-0 lead.

Lohse got out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth, but wouldn’t be so lucky against Braun, who drove a pitch the opposite way for his 14th homer this season in the fifth.

Hart followed with his homer and Rickie Weeks singled in a run off reliever Ryan Franklin as thick, sweet smelling smoke wafted down from the second deck to the first level and field of play. No one was hurt in the fire and a small section of the Miller Park roof on a chilly, 52-degree night was opened to help clear the air.

Milwaukee added two runs in the eighth.

La Russa was honored with an announcement before the game and tipped his cap to a warm ovation. He also discussed a call in the fourth inning with first-base umpire Angel Campos, but never came close to being tossed.

The 66-year-old La Russa is 2,676-2,320-4 with two World Series titles in 33 seasons with the White Sox, Athletics and Cardinals. Only Connie Mack has managed more games in major league history — 7,755 over 53 years.

NOTES: Cardinals 1B Albert Pujols singled in the fourth to extend his hitting streak to eight games. … The Cardinals recalled RHP Mitchell Boggs and optioned RHP Lance Lynn to Triple-A Memphis. Lynn made two starts, going 1-1 with a 5.23 ERA. … Former Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda was on the field before the game chatting with La Russa. … Brewers RHP Takashi Saito (oblique) is scheduled to pitch a rehab assignment at Class-A Wisconsin on Sunday.