MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Yadier Molina homered twice to back a strong start by Miles Mikoas and lift the St. Louis Cardinals to a 3-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday.

   Molina's two-run homer in the sixth inning off reliever Jeremy Jeffress gave St. Louis the lead and the Cardinals held on behind the pitching of Mikolas and four relievers.

   Marcell Ozuna led off the sixth with a line-drive single to center and scored on Molina's shot to right-center, a ball that bounced off the top of the wall and into the St. Louis bullpen.

   Mikolas (8-2) allowed three hits and two runs in 6 2/3 innings while walking two and striking out five. Bud Norris earned his 14th save with a scoreless ninth. Jeffress (5-1) took the loss.

   The Brewers took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by Jesus Aguilar and an RBI single by newcomer Brad Miller.

   St. Louis closed the gap when Molina led off the second inning with a home run to right-center. But Brewers starter Chase Anderson did not yield another run in five innings, giving up two hits and striking out nine while walking four.

   The Brewers had a big chance in the eighth when they loaded the bases with two outs on two hit batters and an infield single, but Aguilar grounded out to shortstop to end the threat.

   MILLER DEBUTS

   The Brewers recalled infielder Brad Miller from Triple-A Colorado Springs and optioned struggling outfielder Domingo Santana.

   Miller, acquired from Tampa Bay on June 10 in exchange for first baseman-outfielder Ji-Man Choi, was in the Brewers starting lineup at second base and had a bloop RBI single in his first at-bat.

   Santana hit .278 last season for Milwaukee with 30 homers and 85 RBIs, but never got on track this season. He hit .249, with three homers and 17 RBIs in 189 at-bats.

   TRAINERS ROOM

   Brewers: Ryan Braun entered in the fifth inning to play left field, when outfielder Lorenzo Cain exited due to groin tightness. Cain also was hit by a pitch in the right elbow on Friday and hit by a pitch in the back in the first inning Saturday. Braun appeared for the first time since receiving a cryogenic injection in his right thumb on Wednesday. . LHP Wade Miley (60-day DL, right oblique strain) pitched two innings on a rehab assignment at Double-A Biloxi on Friday, allowing one run on three hits with three strikeouts. ... RHP Zach Davies (10-day DL, right rotator cuff inflammation) is scheduled to make a second rehab start for Colorado Springs on Sunday.