Jordan Montgomery pitched six strong innings for second straight scoreless outing for his new team, Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado both homered, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 3-1 Friday night.

St. Louis, which has won 11 of 14, pushed its lead over Milwaukee in the NL Central to 1 1/2 games. The Cardinals won their ninth straight at home, the longest streak since a nine-game run June 2-29, 2015.

Montgomery (5-3), acquired from the New York Yankees in a trade for outfielder Harrison Bader on Aug. 2, allowed four hits, struck out eight and walked two. The left-hander pitched five scoreless innings in a 1-0 win over the Yankees in his Cardinals debut last Saturday.

Victor Caratini had three hits and an RBI for Milwaukee, which had a two-game winning streak snapped.

Montgomery has given up six hits in 11 innings for St. Louis with nine strikeouts and three walks.

Ryan Helsley picked up his 12th save with two scoreless innings of relief.

Goldschmidt hit a two-run homer in the first off Eric Lauer (8-4). It was Goldschmidt’s team-leading 28th of the season and his NL-leading eighth since the All-Star break. An MVP candidate, Goldschmidt leads the majors with 28 multi-RBI games.

Arenado pushed the lead to 3-0 with his 25th homer of the season in the sixth.

Caratini’s RBI single in the seventh got the Brewers on the scoreboard. Luis Urias had opened the inning with a triple and Caratini followed with his hit.

Lauer allowed three runs and five hits over six innings. He struck out five and walked two.

The Brewers have lost nine of their last 11 games against NL Central opponents.

UP NEXT

RHP Adam Wainwright (8-8, 3.42) will face Milwaukee RHP Corbin Burnes (8-5, 2.45) in the second game of a three-game series on Saturday.