Albert Pujols, who had been in a 1-for-28 funk against Milwaukee, went 4-for-4 with a homer Thursday as the host St. Louis Cardinals beat the Brewers 5-2 to salvage the series finale.

St. Louis moved back within four games of the NL Central-leading Brewers, who hit into four double plays.

Chris Carpenter (8-8) worked around 10 hits in eight innings, and Fernando Salas got his 22nd save in 25 chances with a perfect ninth.

Pujols took extra batting practice before the game and it paid off. He hit a first-inning solo homer, his 28th, just over the wall in center, had a run-scoring single in the fifth and added two more singles.

Yovani Gallardo (13-8) lasted just five innings for Milwaukee, which finished its road trip 5-1.

Cardinals left fielder Matt Holliday missed a second straight game with a strained lower left side and back, while the Brewers’ Ryan Braun was given the night off so he can keep his left leg healthy for the stretch run.

Braun is in a 1-for-14 skid.