ST. LOUIS, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Matt Holliday's three-run homer finished off a 12-hit attack Thursday and St. Louis snapped a three-game losing streak with an 8-4 win over Pittsburgh.
The Cardinals had dropped seven out of nine to lose contact with division-leading Milwaukee in the National League Central. The win Thursday brought St. Louis to within 9 1/2 games of the idle Brewers.
St. Louis let an early 3-0 lead get away and fell behind by a run in the fourth when Garrett Jones delivered an RBI double.
David Freese singled in two runs in the fifth to put the Cardinals back in front and Holliday added plenty of insurance in the eighth with his 19th homer of the year.
All four of Pittsburgh's runs came off Edwin Jackson (3-2), but he still picked up the victory with a six-inning effort. He allowed six hits and only one of the runs he gave up was earned.
The loss was charged to Charlie Morton (9-7), who surrendered five runs on nine hits in 4 1/3 innings. Pittsburgh has lost six times in nine games.
