updated 1:17 a.m. ET Sept. 25, 2007

MILWAUKEE - If the Milwaukee Brewers are going down, they’re going down swinging.

And so is their manager.

Prince Fielder hit his NL-leading 48th home run and Ned Yost was ejected for the second consecutive game — this time along with his catcher and hitting coach — in the Brewers’ 13-5 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday.

Milwaukee moved within three games of the first-place Chicago Cubs in the NL Central.

After the victory, Yost didn’t bash the umpires the way he did after getting tossed in Atlanta on Sunday, and again before Monday’s game.

“Really, I’ve got no comment,” Yost said. “We played a great ballgame, and some of this stuff gets a little out of hand.”

Still, simply winning in the final week of the season won’t be enough to save the Brewers’ fading playoff hopes.

They’ll need some cooperation from the Cubs, who were off Monday and finish the season with six games on the road. Chicago’s magic number — the combination of Cubs wins and Brewers losses needed to clinch the division title — remained at four.

Yost doesn’t want his players doing too much math this week. He’d prefer they just concentrate on trying to win the rest of their games.

Easier said than done, catcher Damian Miller said.

“You can’t help it,” said Miller, ejected before the seventh inning. “It’s human nature to try to figure it out.”

Brewers starter Dave Bush (12-10) said the team’s continued squabbling with umpires was an indication that players haven’t lost their intensity.

“We’re in a tough spot right now and really have to win all of our games,” Bush said. “Everyone’s a little fired up right now, and sometimes it gets expressed in different ways.”

With Milwaukee leading 11-2 in the sixth, Yost joined Fielder in arguing a called third strike with plate umpire Phil Cuzzi.

Both went back to the dugout without getting ejected despite their recent high-profile umpire confrontations; Fielder served a two-game suspension last month for inappropriate contact with an umpire.

Asked about the call after the game, Fielder punted.

“I just work here,” Fielder said.

Geoff Jenkins’ RBI single put the Brewers up 12-2, but the real fireworks had only begun.

After Cuzzi called Miller out on strikes to end the inning, Miller turned back to bark at Cuzzi as he walked to the dugout. Cuzzi then ejected Brewers hitting coach Jim Skaalen between innings after he started arguing from the dugout — and Miller was tossed after he began to argue with Cuzzi as the catcher walked out to take his place behind home plate.

Asked if he put on his catcher’s gear knowing he probably would get ejected right away, Miller said yes.

“Pretty much,” Miller joked. “There was some premeditation.”

MORE FROM BASEBALL

Baseball Section Front

Cuban ‘not on prowl’ for Dodgers, or any team   Sosa’s skin undergoing color change Blyleven: Pitching to be had beyond Halladay Damon, Matsui and Pettitte all could return Yankees’ Jeter, Teixeira win Gold Gloves Scully to broadcast in 2010, then decide future Baseball GMs pass on expanding instant replay Martin, Herzog, Murtaugh and Mauch on Hall ballot Free agents Circling the Bases: Blogging on news, rumors, buzz Baseball Section Front   Add Baseball headlines to your news reader: