ST. LOUIS ( Associated Press) — Jordan Montgomery made six solid innings for a second consecutive shutout start with his new team, Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 3-1 on Friday.
St. Louis, who won 11 of 14, extended their lead over Milwaukee to a game-and-a-half in the NL Central. The Cardinals won for the ninth time in a row at home, the longest streak after winning nine between June 2–29, 2015.
Victor Caratini had three hits and an RBI for Milwaukee, ending a two-game winning streak.
Montgomery (5–3), who was obtained from the New York Yankees in a trade for outfielder Harrison Bader on August 2, allowed four hits, struck eight and made two runs. The left-handed batsman made five shutout innings in his Cardinals debut last Saturday in a 1-0 win over the Yankees.
Ryan Helsley defended 12 runs-15 with two scoreless innings in relief.
Montgomery closed out a threat in fifth, beating Christian Yelich and Willie Adams with runners-up in first and third.
Goldschmidt scored two runs off the first ball of Eric Lauer (8-4). Since the All-Star break, it was Goldsmith’s 28th homer, a team leader and his eighth, to lead the NL.
For the Brewers, Puerto Rican Victor Caratini scored 4-3; Mexican Luis Urias scored 4–1 with a single and Dominican Willie Adams scored 3–1.
For the Cardinals, Dominican Albert Pujols 4-1 and Puerto Rican Yadier Molina 3-0.
