ST. LOUIS » After scoring just one run against Milwaukee in splitting two games, the Cardinals beat the Brewers 7-4 to win the series Wednesday afternoon.

The Cardinals’ offense caught fire in the first inning as it put up five runs off Milwaukee starter Jimmy Nelson. Kolten Wong doubled, Matt Carpenter singled and Matt Holliday walked to load the bases. Jhonny Peralta hit an RBI single, Randal Grichuk reached first on an error to bring home Carpenter, and Mark Reynolds brought Holliday home with a single.

“His sinker was up early in the game, and we were able to get some good swings on him and find some holes,” first baseman Mark Reynolds said about Nelson. “I think he really settled down after that.”

Yadier Molina and Jason Heyward also were responsible for driving home one run apiece on sacrifice flies off Nelson, who pitched five innings and allowed seven total runs. Six of those were earned.

“You never want to think to yourself in the first inning that this game’s over, but with this pitching staff, it’s hard not to feel that way when you score five runs in the first,” Carpenter said.

The Brewers retaliated in the top of the third after Gerardo Parra hit a home run into right field.

However, the Cardinals bounced back in the fourth and scored two runs on a Matt Carpenter single.

Cardinal pitcher John Lackey then allowed the Brewers to score in the sixth and seventh, bringing the score to 7-3 in the Cardinals’ favor.

Seth Maness stepped in to pitch the eighth. Mitch Harris pitched the beginning of the ninth, but allowed two singles in just 1/3 of an inning. Trevor Rosenthal took his place, and Adam Lind singled in Parra from second base. The game ended with a 5-4-3 double play.

The Cardinals, who won seven of nine games on the homestand, face the Dodgers Thursday night in Los Angeles.