PITTSBURGH, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- Edgar Renteria drove in three runs to pace an 11-hit attack Wednesday night as the St. Louis Cardinals stretched their winning streak to five games with a 7-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
St. Louis has scored 40 runs during the winning streak and has won six of its last seven contests following a seven-game losing streak.
The Cardinals staked Andy Benes (2-3) to a 3-0 lead in the top of the second on Renteria's two-run homer and J.D. Drew's RBI single.
Benes made it hold up, allowing two runs and only two hits over six innings with three walks and three strikeouts.
St. Louis stretched its lead to 5-0 in the third on Renteria's RBI single and Mike Matheny's sacrifice fly.
Benes experienced control problems in the bottom half, walking Craig Wilson and Pokey Reese before allowing an RBI single to Jason Kendall. But the only other hit he surrendered was a single to Reese in the fifth.
The Cardinals got back the run in the sixth as Fernando Vina led off with a single, stole second, moved up on a groundout and scored on Kip Wells' wild pitch.
Wells (11-10) surrendered all six runs - five earned - and 10 hits over six innings and continues to struggle, dropping eight of his last 11 decisions.
Mike Crudale gave up a two-run homer to Craig Wilson in the seventh before St. Louis' Albert Pujols hit a solo shot off Scott Sauerbeck in the ninth.
Pittsburgh manager Lloyd McClendon was ejected in the sixth inning by plate umpire Tim Tschida for arguing balls and strikes.
