Christian Vazquez hit a three-run homer and scored twice as the Boston Red Sox defeated the visiting St. Louis Cardinals 6-4 on Sunday.

The Red Sox took two of three games against the Cardinals for their fifth consecutive series victory. They improved to 13-4 in June.

Boston starter Nick Pivetta (7-5) allowed one run on four hits in seven innings. He struck out 10 and overcame four walks and two wild pitches. Tanner Houck, the fourth Boston pitcher, got the final out to earn his fourth save.

Cardinals starting pitcher Andre Pallante (2-2) allowed two runs on four hits and a walk in 5 2/3 innings.

Juan Yepez hit a pinch-hit three-run homer for the Cardinals. Tyler O’Neill went 3-for-4 with a double and a run but left the game in the ninth inning with hamstring tightness.

The Red Sox struck first with Trevor Story’s solo homer in the second inning.

The Cardinals made the score 1-1 in the fourth when O’Neill singled, stole second and scored on Harrison Bader’s single.

The Red Sox moved ahead 2-1 in the fifth. Alex Verdugo singled, moved up on a wild pitch and scored on Jackie Bradley Jr.’s single.

Pallante lost control in the sixth inning by hitting Rafael Devers with a pitch and walking Xander Bogaerts. Genesis Cabrera relieved Pallante and walked Verdugo, but Story popped out to leave the bases loaded.

Vazquez led off the seventh inning with a double and scored on Rob Refsnyder’s single to put the Red Sox up 3-1.

In the eighth inning, Vazquez followed Verdugo’s single and Story’s walk with his three-run homer to increase Boston’s lead to 6-1.

Yepez came off the bench in the ninth inning to blast his three-run homer off Tyler Danish, cutting the Boston lead to 6-4. The Cardinals got the potential tying run to the plate with two outs, but Houck struck out Brendan Donovan to end the game.

–Field Level Media