Sonny Gray struck out seven over six solid innings of work, leading the Cardinals to a 7-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers Friday evening.

Lars Nootbar got St. Louis on the board in the first with an RBI single. The Cardinals added to the lead in the second after Thomas Saggese came home to score after Jordan Walker grounded into a double play.

Sal Frelick homered in the third to give Milwaukee its first and only run of the game.

The Cardinals blew the game open in the fifth after Nolan Arenado hit a bases clearing double to score three runs. Saggese then followed it up with a double to score Arenado. Walker drove home the final run with a single up the middle to score Saggese.

Gray finished with six innings, allowing a run on nine hits and seven punchouts to pick up his 14th win of the season.

The Cardinals are now 75-79, sitting five games back of the Mets in the wild card chase. The Redbirds will go for the series win today. First pitch from Busch Stadium is at 6:15 p.m.