(Photo credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images)

Hard-throwing Jacob Misiorowski allowed one run on two hits over seven innings and matched his career high with 12 strikeouts to pace the Milwaukee Brewers to a 5-1 victory over the visiting St. Louis Cardinals on Monday.

In the opener of a series between the top two teams in the National League Central, Misiorowski (5-2) took a no-hitter into the sixth before Pedro Pages' leadoff single, which led to the Cardinals' only run. Misiorowski hit 100 mph or more on 56 of his 96 pitches, including nine in the seventh inning. Aaron Ashby finished the game with two scoreless innings.

Milwaukee scored three runs in the first off Matthew Liberatore, capped by Christian Yelich's two-run homer.

After being held hitless through five innings, the Cardinals broke through in the sixth to cut the lead to 2-1 with the first run off Misiorowski this month. Pages blooped 1-2 pitch into shallow right for the first hit. Victor Scott II reached on a fielder's choice, forcing Pages at second.

JJ Wetherholt singled Scott to third and Ivan Herrera dribbled an RBI groundout to third, ending Misiorowski's scoreless streak at 29 2/3 innings over five starts.

The Brewers answered in the bottom half against Brycen Mautz, making his major league debut. Andrew Vaughn singled to right on Mautz's third pitch, then advanced on a wild pitch. Luis Rengifo walked and Vaughn advanced to third on a flyout to deep center. Garrett Mitchell followed with an RBI single to center to make it 4-1.

The Brewers added a run in the seventh on Vaughn's RBI double. Right fielder Jordan Walker prevented another run with a perfect throw home to get Christian Yelich attempting to score from third on a flyout to end the inning.

Milwaukee increased its lead NL Central lead to 2 1/2 games over St. Louis.

The Brewers reached Liberatore for three runs in the first before he settled in. Jackson Chourio drew a leadoff walk and stole second, being ruled safe on an overturned call. William Contreras followed with an RBI single. Yelich then sent a 2-2 pitch 381 feet to left for his fourth homer.

Liberatore (2-3) allowed three runs on seven hits in five innings, striking out a career-high 10 with two walks.

Misiorowski, who entered with a major league-best 88 strikeouts, was dominant from the start. He walked leadoff hitter Wetherholt on six pitches, each at least 103 mph, then struck out 10 of the next 13.

--Field Level Media