Allen Fredrickson / Reuters

Brewers batter Prince Fielder hits his NL-leading 48th home run, a three-run home run, off St. Louis starting pitcher Brendan Ryan in the first inning.

Yost also came out to argue that call but remained in the game.

Cuzzi finally tossed Yost in the top of the seventh, after the manager once again left the dugout to argue after Cuzzi called Rick Ankiel safe at home on a two-run single by Ryan Ludwick that made the score 12-5.

Before Monday’s game, Yost — a protege of Atlanta’s Bobby Cox, the most-ejected manager in major league history — said he stood by his comments after Sunday’s game.

“If the truth gets you in trouble, then the heck with it,” Yost said.

But afterward, Yost insisted that his ejection Monday had nothing to do with his criticism of the umpiring crew on Sunday. Yost said he was angry after Sunday’s game because the umpires in Atlanta weren’t giving the Brewers the respect they deserved.

“I’ve got no problems with their effort tonight — none,” Yost said. “We just argued balls and strikes. That happens every day.”

Yost’s ejection came after the Brewers had the game well in hand. Milwaukee scored four runs off starter Adam Wainwright (13-12) before he got his first out.

Only four of the nine runs Wainwright gave up were earned as the Cardinals made three errors, which manager Tony La Russa blamed partly on the playing surface.

“There’s a lot of great things about this ballpark, but it’s tough dirt,” La Russa said. “It’s a challenge. It’s good for the hitters, a lot of light. But some of those balls look like routine plays, but they’re not.”

The four-run first included a three-run homer by Fielder, who clanged an 0-1 pitch off a steel girder high in right-center field. Milwaukee then put the game out of reach with five runs in the fifth and three in the sixth, including a two-run homer by rookie Ryan Braun, his 33rd.

Albert Pujols, who had missed five straight starts because of a strained left calf muscle, talked La Russa into allowing him to start.

Pujols came in needing one RBI to become the first player to reach 100 in his first seven seasons but was 0-for-3 with a walk.

“It feels OK,” Pujols said. “Am I playing tomorrow? I don’t know.”

Notes: Cardinals C Yadier Molina and LHP Mark Mulder had surgery in St. Louis and will miss the final week of the season. Molina had right knee surgery and Mulder had arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder. ... Brewers C Johnny Estrada has a medial meniscus tear in his left knee and might miss the final week of the season.

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