ended for the first four games of this season for violating the leagues substance-abuse policy. A second suspension coul

ST. LOUIS -- Kyle Lohse was the St. Louis Cardinals ace last season. Maybe they know too much about him. David Freese had an RBI in a four-run fourth inning to go with big plays at third base, and the Cardinals beat their former teammate for the third straight time with a 4-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday. "Baseball is a stupid game," said Lohse, who was 16-3 for the Cardinals last season. "Baseball is weird, man. You make some good pitches and they get some good hits." Of course, they have a pretty good idea whats coming from Lohse, who was with St. Louis from 2008-12. "Yeah, well, he was with the Cardinals, if you remember," said Pete Kozma, who contributed an RBI squeeze bunt to the rally. "We kind of know what he has, kind of know his tendencies a little bit, what his ball does." John Gast (2-0) won his second straight start in place of the injured Jake Westbrook and fellow rookie Seth Maness escaped a bases-loaded, none-out jam in the seventh to help the Cardinals win for the 14th time in 17 games. They took two of three from Milwaukee and lead the season series 8-2. Theyre down two starting pitchers, with Jaime Garcia also on the 15-day disabled list with a left shoulder strain, but havent let it slow them down. "Weve got to pick it up but with the talent we have, it doesnt demand much," Freese said. "The guys we have in Double-A and Triple-A, theyre waiting and theyre hungry and theyre expected to do well." Edward Mujica earned his 13th save in 13 chances after a third rookie, Trevor Rosenthal, gave up a hit in the eighth. Lohse (1-5) left in free agency when the Cardinals opted to go with younger players such as Shelby Miller and save salary. He gave up four runs in six innings, and is 0-4 overall in his last five starts. Yuniesky Betancourt and Jeff Bianchi each drove in a run and Norichika Aoki had three hits and a walk for the Brewers, who have lost 14 of 17. They didnt have much to show for 10 hits and wrapped up a 2-8 trip. "There were a lot of story lines out of our road trip," said Ryan Braun, who grounded into a double play with the bases loaded to end the seventh. "And none of them good." After getting one hit the first time through the order, the Cardinals jumped on Lohse for six hits in the first seven at-bats in the fourth. Yadier Molina singled for the lead and Jon Jay followed with an RBI double, both coming on first pitches. Freeses opposite-field single through a drawn-in infield was his fifth RBI of the series after totalling four prior to the weekend, and Kozma capped the rally with a perfectly-placed squeeze bunt that Lohse couldnt touch with a diving barehanded attempt. Gast has opened with five scoreless innings in each of his first two career starts, and has allowed a total of six runs in the sixth. "I made a few mistakes in the sixth," Gast said. "Its something to keep an eye on, but I dont think two starts is a big enough sample size to make any conclusions." Maness took over with one out and runners at the corners, and the Brewers got two-out RBIs from Betancourt and Bianchi to cut the deficit to 4-2. Maness finished with a unique pitching line, allowing no runs on five hits in 1 2-3 innings. According to baseballreference.com, hes the ninth pitcher since 1916 to give up five hits and get five outs without allowing a run, and the first since Eric Gunderson of Seattle in 2000. "Im a ground-ball pitcher and that happens sometimes," Maness said. "Its never fun but youve just got to focus and know youre another ground ball away from trying to get out of it." The Brewers opened the seventh with three straight hits and had two of their best hitters due up. Jean Segura, who entered with an NL-leading .361 average, popped up to first and Braun grounded into a double play on a full count on a play started by Freese. Aoki was barely run down at the plate by Freese to foil a double-steal attempt and end the first. The Brewers attempted to manufacture a run with Betancourt down 1-2 in the count while mired in a 3 for 40 slump. Freese faked a few tosses to the plate before flicking his glove to catch Aoki beginning his dive. Freese cut his right thumb on Aokis spikes at the end of the play and got a few stitches after the game, but didnt think it would keep him down. "Ive had plenty of stitches over my days, so well be all right," Freese said. "Its a cut. Toughen up a few minutes here, a few minutes there." NOTES: Aoki is 16 for 30 (.533) his last seven games with four three-hit games and is batting .410 (16 for 39) against the Cardinals. ... Jay has 15 RBIs his last 15 games. ...The Cardinals are 14-7 on the road heading into an eight game trip. Miller (5-2, 1.40) is tied for the major league lead in ERA heading into Mondays start against Jason Marquis (5-2, 3.49) at San Diego. ... The Brewers begin an eight-game home stand Monday with Yovani Gallardo (3-3, 4.50) facing the Dodgers Clayton Kershaw (4-2, 1.40). ... Professional wrestler Chris Jericho, in town for an "extreme rules" event Sunday night, threw the ceremonial first pitch. ... Milwaukees Rickie Weeks struck out twice for a four-game total of eight and is batting .170.Jeff Hornacek Jersey . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . Dante Exum Jazz Jersey . After a replay, the winner will meet Sunderland in the quarterfinals. Sagbo did well to control Sone Alukos right cross and fire past Brighton goalkeeper Peter Brezovan. Aluko was making his first start in four months after recovering from an Achilles injury. http://www.jazzauthentic.com/kids-karl-malone-jazz-jersey/ . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. Tony Bradley Jazz Jersey . -- For the first time in two months, an opponent was standing up to Alabama. Jeff Hornacek Jazz Jersey . P.A. Parenteau scored early in the third period to help the Avs edge Toronto 2-1 on Tuesday night. Cory Sarich also scored for Colorado (3-0-0), which is off to its best ever start.GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Mike Pennel already missed the first four games of this season because of a suspension, and now the Green Bay Packers defensive tackle will miss the final four games for the same reason.Pennel agreed on Tuesday to accept the second suspension, a source confirmed to ESPN, one day after the NFL Players Association said Pennels appeal -- scheduled for Tuesday -- had been postponed.The defensive tackle was suspended for the first four games of this season for violating the leagues substance-abuse policy. A second suspension could have meant a 10-game ban, and it was not clear why Pennel received another four-game ban.Pennel will be eligible to return to the active roster Jan. 2, after Green Bays New Years Day game against the Detroit Lions, the NFL saaid in a statement released by the Packers.dddddddddddd.?He will be eligible to play if the Packers (6-6) make the playoffs.Because of the confidentiality of the process, the Packers will not have any comment on this matter, the team said.The NFL Network was the first to report that Pennel had agreed to the four-game suspension.Pennel filed a lawsuit in federal court in Ohio last week, alleging that the NFL and the players union failed to satisfy the rules of the collective bargaining agreement when it came to hearing the appeal of his most recent suspension.The third-year pro has played in the past eight games of the season as a backup. ' ' '