ST. LOUIS -- No shutout for Randy Wolf. No save for John Axford. And neither seemed to mind when Trevor Hoffman finished this one.

Hoffman struck out Brendan Ryan with the bases loaded for his 598th save, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the slumping St. Louis Cardinals 3-2 on Wednesday, handing 17-game winner Adam Wainwright his first home loss of the season.

Hoffman, baseball's career saves leader, has two saves this month as the Brewers' backup option behind Axford. Before that, his last save was May 7.

"I was excited for that right away," Axford said after a couple of fielding miscues led to him being pulled with two down. "I came in upset and right away I let it go.

"Hoffy's out there and we're cheering him on."

St. Louis Cardinals' Randy Winn, right, is tagged out by Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder before reaching first base during the ninth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2010, in St. Louis. The Brewers won 3-2. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Wolf pitched three-hit ball into the ninth inning, and rookie Lorenzo Cain had two hits, scored twice and drove in a run. He also had a key steal to set up Milwaukee's first run in the fifth.

The 42-year-old Hoffman needed just three pitches to retire Ryan after the Cardinals pushed across a pair of runs in the ninth.

The Brewers are 18-9 at Busch Stadium over the last three seasons after sweeping the two-game series. The Cardinals have lost four straight to drop out of the top spot in the NL Central.

"What you're geared to do offensively is find something you can do something with and make something happen," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "That's our challenge and we haven't done it the last couple of days."

Wolf was happy to outpitch Wainwright, who he said was "probably the front-runner right now for the Cy Young" Award.

Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright throws during the first inning Wednesday.

"I joked before the game that if I throw a shutout, at least I guaranteed a no-decision," Wolf said. "It's exciting to go against a pitcher like this, a team like that."

Wainwright (17-7) gave up three runs and seven hits in seven innings but missed a chance to become the majors' first 18-game winner. He allowed multiple runs for the first time in four starts when the Brewers scored twice in the seventh for a 3-0 lead.

Wainwright entered on a bit of a roll, with a 3-0 mark and a sparkling 0.39 ERA over his previous three outings. The right-hander dropped to 11-1 with a 1.42 ERA in 13 home starts this season.

"You can't win every one forever, but he certainly did his part," La Russa said. "He competed like a maniac. They beat a really, really good pitcher."

Wolf (10-9) allowed only two harmless singles -- one by Wainwright -- and was on the verge of his first complete game in nearly two seasons before he was removed after Albert Pujols' one-out double in the ninth. Axford surrendered an RBI double to Matt Holliday and a second run scored when first baseman Prince Fielder botched Aaron Miles' grounder.

Cardinals shortstop Brendan Ryan watches his throw to first as Brewers base runner Rickie Weeks arrives at second after being forced out during the sixth inning Wednesday in St. Louis. (JEFF ROBERSON ~ Associated Press)

"I didn't read the spin on it too good," Fielder said.

Fielder hurt his wrist on a tag play earlier in the inning. He told manager Ken Macha he was fine, but Macha said, "Let's see. With Prince you never know. Hopefully he ices it up."

Both of the doubles were to left, and Ryan Braun appeared to have a chance at snaring both. After Axford walked pinch-hitter Colby Rasmus on four pitches, Hoffman earned his seventh save in 12 opportunities.

"You've got to get 27 outs," Macha said. "Sometimes the last three are the toughest."

The Cardinals had put only one runner in scoring position before the ninth.

Wainwright had been 2-0 with an 0.50 ERA and two complete games against the Brewers this season, including his first career shutout. Despite the setback, the right-hander extended his major league record with a 28th consecutive quality start at home.

The Cardinals have been one of the NL's best home teams up to this point but fell to 39-22.

Cain's speed helped the Brewers take the lead.

He led off the fifth with a double and stole third with one out. He then scored when Wainwright tried to shovel George Kottaras' RBI dribbler to catcher Yadier Molina and ended up with no play.

Cain hit a run-scoring triple in the seventh and scored on Alcides Escobar's sacrifice fly.

The Cardinals began the day two games behind the Reds in the NL Central, and with several hitters slumping.