Veteran right-hander John Lackey tossed seven innings of three-run ball and the St. Louis Cardinals’ offense erupted for a five-run first inning as the club topped the visiting Milwaukee Brewers, 7-4, on Wednesday afternoon.
St. Louis (35-18) was actually out-hit 14-to-10, but despite Milwaukee scoring runs in four separate innings, the Cardinals’ early burst proved to be too much to handle.
Kolten Wong led off the bottom of the first with a double, his 11th on the season, and Matt Carpenter followed with a single, advancing the Cardinals second baseman to third.