ST. LOUIS, July 23 (UPI) -- CC Sabathia turned in another outstanding effort Wednesday, limiting St. Louis to three hits and going the distance in Milwaukee's 3-0 win over the Cardinals.

It was the Brewers' seven straight victory -- the last three having come over St. Louis.

Sabathia (10-8) has made four starts since being traded to Milwaukee from Cleveland and has won them all. He has turned in complete games in three of those outings and since coming to the Brewers has given up five earned runs over 33 innings.

Milwaukee began the evening a game behind the Chicago Cubs in the National League Central

J.J. Hardy broke a scoreless tie in the fifth with his 14th homer of the year and Ryan Braun added a solo shot in the ninth.

The Cardinals were unable to muster any support for Braden Looper (9-8) who gave up only Hardy's homer in a five-inning stint.

St. Louis did not manage a hit until the sixth, when Brendan Ryan and Ryan Ludwick both singled with two out. But Albert Pujols flew out to end the inning. Albert Miles had a one-out single in the eighth for the Cardinals.