Molina leads Cards over Brewers 4-2 to open key 5-game set

Yadier Molina singled twice to reach 2,000 career hits and the St. Louis Cardinals began a five-game series between playoff contenders by beating the Milwaukee Brewers 4-2 Thursday night.

Rookie Dylan Carlson homered, doubled and drove in three runs as the Cardinals (28-26) kept their slim lead over Cincinnati (29-28) for second place in the NL Central.

Milwaukee (27-29) missed a chance to move up in the wild-card standings. The Brewers and Cardinals play four more times this weekend, including a doubleheader Friday.

St. Louis Cardinals' Yadier Molina celebrates after hitting a single for his 2,000th career hit during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020, in St. Louis. (AP PhotoJeff Roberson)

St. Louis starter Kwang Hyun Kim (3-0) went five innings to pick up the win. He allowed five hits and just one run in his seventh career start. Andrew Miller got the final two outs — both on strikeouts — to record his fourth save.

Corbin Burnes (4-1), who began the day with a 1.77 ERA, left the game with lower back discomfort in the fourth inning. He pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on six hits.

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St. Louis Cardinals' Yadier Molina singles for his 2,000th career hit during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020, in St. Louis. (AP PhotoJeff Roberson)

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Kwang-Hyun Kim smiles as he walks off the field after getting Milwaukee Brewers' Ryan Braun to fly out ending the top of the fifth inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020, in St. Louis. (AP PhotoJeff Roberson)

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (46) laughs as he talks with Milwaukee Brewers' Christian Yelich during a pause in the action in the fifth inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020, in St. Louis. (AP PhotoJeff Roberson)

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina (4) walks out to the mound to talk with starting pitcher Kwang-Hyun Kim during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020, in St. Louis. (AP PhotoJeff Roberson)

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Corbin Burnes stands on the mound after giving up a two-run home run to St. Louis Cardinals' Dylan Carlson during the fourth inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020, in St. Louis. (AP PhotoJeff Roberson)