Yadier Molina hit a three-run homer and the St. Louis Cardinals battered around Milwaukee Brewers ace Yovani Gallardo in Saturday’s 7-1 victory over their division rivals.

Colby Rasmus homered and Albert Pujols knocked in a pair of runs as the Cardinals carried over the momentum from Friday night’s ninth-inning, game-winning home run from Nick Stavinoha.

Jaime Garcia (1-0) picked up the second win of his career, allowing one run on four hits with five strikeouts in six innings of work.

It was the 23-year-old’s first start since 2008 as he missed all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

The Cardinals got to Gallardo early, staking a 4-0 lead in the second inning on the strength of Molina’s blast. They made it 7-0 in the fifth on a double from Skip Schumaker and a run-scoring single by Pujols.

Gallardo (0-2) went five innings, surrendering six runs on five hits. He struck out five and walked two.

The Brewers, who managed just four hits, got their only run in the sixth on a single from Corey Hart that plated Casey McGehee.