ST. LOUIS — With 50 games to go, it is a bit premature to call the Cardinals series with Milwaukee a showdown. But there is a battle for first place going on this weekend in the National League Central Division and the Cardinals inched farther ahead Friday night before a packed house of 45,669 at Busch Stadium.
Left-hander Jordan Montgomery, unscored on in his first two starts since coming in trade from the New York Yankees for gimpy outfielder Harrison Bader, knocked off six scoreless innings, striking out a season-high eight and permitting just four hits. And the Cardinals rode home runs from their twin terrors, Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado, for a 3-1 victory that increased their lead over the Brewers to 1 1/2 games.
Goldschmidt has 28 homers for the season and Arenado 25 but he’s belted four in the past five games.
