MLB: St. Louis 5, Pittsburgh 2

ST. LOUIS, May 7 (UPI) -- Todd Wellemeyer gave up two earned runs and just four hits in seven innings Thursday to help St. Louis to a 5-2 win and a two-game sweep of Pittsburgh.

Wellemeyer walked three batters and struck out four.

One of two hits for Jason LaRue was a first-inning solo homer. Skip Schumaker had two runs and three hits for the Cardinals, who had lost three in a row before the Pittsburgh series started Wednesday.

Robinzon Diaz led Pittsburgh with two of its four hits and one RBI. Nate McLouth drove in a run with a fifth-inning double for the Pirates, who have lost five straight and nine of 10.

Losing pitcher Ross Ohlendorf (3-3) was tagged for five earned runs and seven hits in six innings with one walk and five strikeouts.

Before the contest, the Cardinals placed center fielder Rick Ankiel on the 15-day disabled list (shoulder).