Paul Goldschmidt hit an early two-run home run and the St. Louis Cardinals tacked on two runs in the seventh inning to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-2 on Friday night, snapping the visitors’ three-game winning streak.

Goldschmidt went 1-for-4 as St. Louis rebounded from back-to-back losses. His third-inning blast gave the Cardinals a 2-0 lead, and they added runs on Edmundo Sosa’s pinch-hit RBI triple and Lars Nootbaar’s fielder’s-choice grounder in the seventh.

Cardinals starter Dakota Hudson gave up five hits and walked four but managed to hold the Brewers scoreless through 4 2/3 innings. He struck out three.

The St. Louis bullpen took it from there, although the Brewers’ Keston Hiura hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth to trim the deficit.

Ryan Helsley entered out of the bullpen to get the final two outs and earn his third save.

Drew VerHagen (2-0) picked up the win, and Genesis Cabrera was particularly impressive, striking out two in two shutout innings. He allowed just one hit and did not surrender any walks.

St. Louis’ Harrison Bader had two singles and a run.

The Brewers left eight runners on base and were 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.

Milwaukee had a chance to get its offense going early, but left a pair of runners stranded in the second, and with the bases loaded in the third, Andrew McCutchen grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Omar Narvaez and Tyrone Taylor went 2-for-4 and Kolten Wong went 2-for-5 to account for six of the Brewers’ eight hits.

Losing pitcher Brandon Woodruff (5-3) kept Milwaukee in contention but exited the game prior to the bottom of the fifth due to an ankle injury. He said postgame that he believed the ailment was minor, but there is a chance he could miss a start.

In four innings, the right-hander allowed two hits and two runs. He walked one and struck out four.

Luis Perdomo took over for Woodruff and pitched two scoreless innings with two strikeouts.

–Field Level Media