Ryan Ludwick homered and drove in the first of four runs in the eighth inning Wednesday, bringing St. Louis from behind for a 5-3 win over Milwaukee.

Aaron Miles drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth, helping the Cardinals win for the fourth time in six games. St. Louis moved within 3 1/2 games of front-running Milwaukee in the wild card race. The Brewers also slipped six games behind the division-leading Chicago Cubs in the National League Central.

The four-run, eighth-inning rally made a winner out of reliever Ryan Franklin (5-5), who worked a scoreless top of the eighth. Chris Perez struck out the side in the ninth for his sixth save.

David Riske (1-2), the third of five Milwaukee pitchers, took the loss by giving up three runs in the eighth. The Brewers had won their previous five games.

Albert Pujols led off St. Louis' big inning with a double and scored on Ludwick's double. Troy Glaus then singled in Ludwick to tie the game. Glaus took second on the throw home, moved to third on a groundout and beat the throw home on Miles's fielder's choice grounder to shortstop.

Miles advanced to second on a sacrifice and scored the fourth run of the inning on Felipe Lopez's single.

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