ST. LOUIS (AP) — Dakota Hudson pitched six innings of one-hit ball and hit a two-run single for his first big league RBIs, helping the St. Louis Cardinals rout the San Francisco Giants 10-0 on Thursday to open a three-game lead over the second-place Chicago Cubs in the NL Central.

Paul DeJong hit an early two-run homer, and Paul Goldschmidt singled and scored twice for the Cardinals, who for the sixth time in seven games.

San Francisco has lost five of six and eight of 10, dropping nine games back for the NL’s second wild card at 67-73.

Hudson (15-6) allowed a one-out single in the second to Kevin Pillar and walked Brandon Crawford, then retired 14 of his final 15 batters. He has won five straight starts.

Génesis Cabrera finished the four-hitter for his first big league save.

Logan Webb (1-1) allowed eight runs — seven earned — eight hits and two walks in 2 2/3 innings.

Tommy Edman doubled leading off and scored on Paul Goldschmidt’s one-out single in a three-run first capped by DeJong’s career-best 26 homer.

St. Louis blew open the game with a five-run third that included a pair of miscues by the Giants. Matt Carpenter reached on a run-scoring infield single when first baseman Brandon Belt lost track of the bag on a throw from second baseman Mauricio Dubón. Crawford allowed Edman’s grounder to shortstop to bounce off his glove for an error.

Hudson’s single chased Webb and boosted the lead to 7-0.

Rangel Ravelo hit his first career homer, a two-run drive in the eighth against Kyle Barraclough.

UP NEXT

Giants: RHP Jeff Samardzija (9-11, 3.61 ERA) start a three-game series on Friday at the Los Angeles Dodgers, who start LHP Clayton Kershaw (13-4, 2.96 ERA). Samardzija is 0-3 with a 4.21 ERA in five appearances at Dodger Stadium.

Cardinals: RHP Miles Mikolas (8-13, 4.32 ERA) starts Friday at Pittsburgh and RHP Joe Musgrove (9-12, 4.67 ERA). Mikolas has 10 outings with no walks.