ST. LOUIS _ Paul Goldschmidt was given most of the day off in Colorado before the St. Louis Cardinals returned to Busch Stadium on Friday night.
The short day apparently was just what he needed.
Goldschmidt hit two home runs, including a grand slam, and drove in a career-best seven runs against Milwaukee to lead the Cardinals to a 10-0 win, helping to preserve their four-game lead in the NL Central Division.
Goldschmidt made a pair of curtain calls as he reached 31 homers and 89 RBIs in his first season with the team.
His grand slam was a line drive into the Milwaukee bullpen in the third inning. He hit a three-run homer on a line drive into the bleachers in left center field in the sixth, when the Cardinals scored six runs.
The Cardinals remained four games ahead of the Chicago Cubs while the Brewers fell five games out of first.
Adam Wainwright (12-9) pitched six innings, allowing two hits and striking out seven. He retired 11 of the last 12 hitters he faced and didn't allow a hit after the second inning.
In fact, the Brewers finished with only those two hits as Ryan Helsley, Dominic Leone and Genesis Cabrera shut them down over the final three innings.
Wainwright also started the sequence that led to Goldschmidt's sixth career grand slam and second of the season. The Cardinals were without a hit when Wainwright hit in the third and went to a 1-and-2 count. He fouled off three pitches and then lined a double into the left field corner.
Dexter Fowler followed with one of his three walks in the game and Kolten Wong bunted for a single to load the bases before Goldschmidt's homer. All of the damage was done against Milwaukee starter Adrian Houser (6-6).
The Cardinals again loaded the bases in the sixth when Yadier Molina walked, Tommy Edman doubled and Harrison Bader was hit by a pitch to start the inning.
Matt Carpenter pinch-hit and backed right fielder Ben Gamel to the wall for a sacrifice fly. Fowler walked and Wong singled in two runs, setting up Goldschmidt's second homer.
Goldschmidt earned a second curtain call when he hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning, giving him seven RBIs on the night and pushing the Cardinals lead over Milwaukee to 10-0 at Busch Stadium.
Goldschmidt's 31st homer of the season traveled an estimated 422 feet and gave him 17 multi-homer games in his career. The seven RBIs are a career best.
Matt Carpenter nearly hit the team's second grand slam of the night in the sixth but settled for a sacrifice fly after Yadier Molina walked, Tommy Edman doubled and Harrison Bader was hit by a pitch to open the inning.
Pinch-hitting, Carpenter backed right fielder Ben Gamel to the wall with his drive. After Dexter Fowler walked for the third time in the game, Kolten Wong singled to drive in a pair of runs.
Goldschmidt followed by hitting a no-doubt homer into the bleachers in left center field.
Adam Wainwright pitched six scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out seven. He struggled a bit early but retired 11 of the last 12 batters he faced. Both of the Milwaukee hits against Wainwright came in the first two innings.
