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Lackey, Cardinals sweep; Brewers pitcher Nelson hurt

Sports

September 18th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

MILWAUKEE (AP) — John Lackey pitched seven shutout innings and the NL Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals beat Milwaukee 6-3 Thursday night in a game delayed after Brewers pitcher Jimmy Nelson was hit in the head by a line drive. The Cardinals swept the three-game series to extend their winning streak to four. They now lead second-place Pittsburgh by five games in the division race.

Nelson was struck in the back of the head by a liner from Tommy Pham in the third inning. Nelson crumpled on the mound and remained prone for about a minute. Nelson later walked off the field and was hospitalized after a CT scan showed a contusion. Lackey (12-9) scattered five hits and two walks while striking out eight. He has a 2.23 ERA in his last 17 starts dating to June 15.

Pham tripled, doubled and singled, driving in two runs and scoring twice. Matt Carpenter got three hits, including a home run. Nelson (11-3) took the loss and Milwaukee dropped its sixth in a row.