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Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Kolten Wong (right) can’t throw out St. Cardinals Tommy Edman. Louis at first as Brewers shortstop Willy Adames (27) looks on during the seventh inning of Sunday’s National League Central showdown at St. (Photo by Jeff Roberson/AP)

St. LOUIS (AP) – Albert Pujols hit two home runs and Miles Mikolas pitched eight innings, helping the St. Louis to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-3 on Sunday.

Dylan Carlson and Tyler O’Neill also connected for St. Louis, which pushed its NL Central lead over second-place Milwaukee to 1 1/2 games.

Carlson broke a 2-run tie with his eighth homer of the season, a drive to left off Taylor Rogers (1-6) in the eighth.

Hunter Renfroe and Rowdy Tellez homered for Milwaukee, which beat St. Louis 3-2 in 10 innings Saturday night.

Pujols hit a solo shot in the second and a three-run home run in the eighth to give him 689 career home runs. It was his 63rd career multi-hit game, tying him with Willie Mays for fifth all-time.

Pujols, 42, ranks fourth on the career home run list behind Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714) and Alex Rodriguez (696).

“I am the grandfather of this club,” said Pujols. “I’m having a good time”.

Pujols has 10 home runs and 30 RBIs in what he has said will be his last season.

“I’ve been hitting good swings all year,” said Pujols. “Sometimes, you’re going to have breaks. Sometimes you’re not.”

Pujols has hit 10 home runs for the 21st time in his career.

“Seeing him do these amazing things and hearing the crowd react, he’s just giving the people what they want.” Mikolas received. “There’s nothing better than that.”

Not only did Pujols get the job done on the field, but he also gave valuable advice during the pregame batter’s huddle.

“He’s got a lot of experience, he’s played against a lot of guys in this league,” Carlson said.

Pujols, a regular starter against lefties, even impressed the opponent.

“He got his pitches and it hurt” Milwaukee outfielder Andrew McCutchen said. “That’s what he’s done his whole career.”

Mikolas (9-9) allowed two runs and four hits. He struck out six and walked none.

Mikolas was coming off a rough start. He gave up 10 runs in a 16-5 loss to Colorado on Tuesday.

“A little craziness in Colorado,” Mikolas received. “I stuck to my guns and stuck with what works best. Hit the zone and good things will happen.”

Renfroe hit a two-run shot in the second off Mikolas, who then retired the next 10 batters. It was Renfroe’s 20th home run of the season.

O’Neill tied the game with his seventh homer in the sixth.

St. Louis took an 8-7 lead in the season series. The teams have four games to play against each other.

UP NEXT: Brewers: RHP Freddy Peralta (4-2, 4.37 ERA) faces Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Julio Urias (12-6, 2.49 ERA) in the first of a four-game set Monday in Milwaukee. Peralta will make his 11th start of the season.

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