ST. LOUIS (AP) — Todd Wellemeyer allowed two hits into the eighth inning and Albert Pujols had two hits, reaching base for the 41st straight game to start the season, helping the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1 on Wednesday night.

Cesar Izturis and Troy Glaus both had three hits and an RBI for the Cardinals, who ended a three-game losing streak and won for only the second time in eight games behind a 15-hit attack and despite stranding 15 runners, one off their season worst. They handed the Pirates only their second loss in nine games, denying them a chance to reach .500 this far into the season for the first time since they were 30-30 on June 11, 2005.

Wellemeyer (4-1) allowed Luis Rivas’ single with one out in the first, then gave up only three walks before Jose Bautista singled to start the eighth. That ended an outing that matched his career best since moving into the rotation last year.