Veteran right-hander Adam Wainwright pitched a complete game two-hitter Wednesday as the visiting St. Louis Cardinals handed the Pittsburgh Pirates their seventh straight loss, 4-0.

Wainwright (11-6) gave up two singles, both by Colin Moran, an infield hit in the second off the pitcher's glove that was negated by a double play, and a leadoff hit in the fifth.

He struck out seven, walked none and made 88 pitches -- and, for good measure, hit an RBI single.

It was his 11th career complete-game shutout and first since July 16, 2016, against the Marlins.

Wainwright, 39, has been tough on the Pirates. He is 19-7 in 45 career games, 39 of them starts. He has won six straight starts and eight straight decisions against Pittsburgh.

Paul DeJong added a two-run double and Yadier Molina had an RBI single for the Cardinals, who have won two in a row and four of five.

The Pirates have been held to three hits over the first two games of the series.

Pittsburgh starter Wil Crowe (3-7) pitched 4 2/3 innings, giving up one run and four hits, with three walks and four strikeouts.

Both pitchers faced the minimum nine batters through three innings. That changed for Crowe in the fourth, when St. Louis took a 1-0 lead.

Paul Goldschmidt singled to left with one out, and Nolan Arenado walked. After Tyler O'Neill struck out, Molina singled to left to drive in Goldschmidt.

In the sixth against Pirates reliever Cody Ponce, Arenado opened with a base hit to left. O'Neill flied out before Molina doubled off the wall in center, with Arenado going to third. After Harrison Bader struck out, DeJong doubled to right-center to drive in Arenado and Molina for a 3-0 Cardinals lead. Tommy Edman was intentionally walked before Wainwright singled up the middle to bring DeJong in and push it to 4-0.

In the eighth, Bader made a splashy diving catch in center of pinch-hitter Wilmer Difo's fly ball to end the inning and keep Pittsburgh at two hits.

--Field Level Media