"Meaningful baseball in August had been nothing but a pipe dream in Zack Greinke's seven seasons with the Kansas City Royals.

With the Milwaukee Brewers, though, it has become a reality, one the right-hander seems to be embracing.

Greinke got the better of the St. Louis Cardinals and their ace righty, Chris Carpenter, as the two former Cy Young Award winners squared off Monday night for the second time this season.

Greinke allowed seven hits, two earned runs and a walk while striking out five in six innings to help lead the Brewers to a 6-2 win at Miller Park.

It was just the type of performance Milwaukee was hoping for from Greinke when it traded a passel of prospects to Kansas City for him last December. And it was just the type of situation Greinke was seeking when he requested to be traded to a contending team.

"I was nervous going into the game," said Greinke, who improved to 9-4 overall and 7-0 at Miller Park. "It was a big game, and we're getting close and they've got a good team. It was exciting."

Greinke entered the game having been named the Brewers' pitcher of the month for July after striking out 43 and walking nine while compiling a 1-1 record in five starts.

But the Cardinals put him in a hole in the opening inning.

A leadoff single by newly acquired shortstop Rafael Furcal got St. Louis going. Then after Greinke induced a pair of flyouts, Matt Holliday went with a 2-1 fastball on the outer part of the plate and sent it over the wall in right to open a quick 2-0 lead.

It was the 14th homer surrendered by Greinke, second-most behind fellow starters Yovani Gallardo and Shaun Marcum, each of whom have given up 15."