Casey McGehee’s solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the Milwaukee Brewers an 8-7 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday.

The Brewers needed the third baseman’s heroics after all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman blew his second save chance in as many days.

Hoffman (1-1) allowed a two-run homer from slugger Albert Pujols, his second of the game, and a solo blast from Matt Holliday with two outs in the ninth to knot the score at 7-7.

McGehee deposited a fastball from Kyle McClellen (0-1) into the left field bleachers for the game-winner.

Ryan Braun, Rickie Weeks and Corey Hart all homered off St. Louis ace Chris Carpenter as the Brewers forged a 7-2 advantage and chased the right-hander after five innings.

Carpenter, who finished runner-up in last year’s NL Cy Young Award voting, was roughed up for seven runs, five of which were earned, on seven hits.

The Cardinals got a pair back on Pujols’ two-run homer in the seventh to make it 7-4.

Weeks reached base safely four times, including two walks, and scored three runs, while Braun and Hart went deep for the first time this season.

Milwaukee starter Randy Wolf lasted 6 1/3 innings and surrendered two earned runs on six hits in the no-decision.