MLB: St. Louis 9, Pittsburgh 2

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- Michael Wacha blanked Pittsburgh for seven innings Sunday and the St. Louis Cardinals lengthened their division lead with a 9-2 victory over the Pirates.

Wacha (3-0) allowed two hits, walked two and struck out two in the 97-pitch effort. He added a two-run single at the plate for the Cards, who with a three-game sweep moved 1 1/2 games ahead of the second-place Pirates in the National League Central.

David Freese, Matt Carpenter and Jon Jay each provided two hits and an RBI for St. Louis.

Pittsburgh's Charlie Morton (7-4) coughed up five runs and six hits before leaving in the second inning with a foot injury.

Garrett Jones and Gaby Sanchez each drove in a run for the Bucs, who dropped a fourth straight.