MILWAUKEE — Joel Pineiro scattered three hits in his third complete game this year and Ryan Ludwick hit a three-run homer in a five-run eighth inning, rallying the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday.

Pineiro (7-9) benefited from three double plays and faced just one batter over the minimum. He struck out five and walked none while throwing 100 pitches.

St. Louis won two of three against Milwaukee to increase its lead in the NL Central to two heading into a four-game, three-day series against the Chicago Cubs starting today.