Matt Holliday’s long two-run homer in the first inning was all the support Kyle Lohse needed on Thursday, as St. Louis blanked Washington 5-0 to win the final two games of the three-game series at Busch Stadium.

Lohse (3-1) allowed only two hits, none after the fifth inning, struck out six and walked two. It was his eighth career complete game and sixth career shutout, his first since going the distance and blanking Houston on April 12, 2009.

Holliday sent a towering fly ball into the left field bullpen off losing pitcher Tom Gorzelanny (0-2). Holliday was 2-for-4, which included his second homer; he now has 11 RBIs and improved his batting average to .455.

The Cardinals got three insurance runs in the eighth, when Alpert Pujols connected for his sixth homer, a two-run shot off Collin Balester, who had not allowed a run when entering the game. Holliday, who followed with a walk, scored from first on a double by David Freese.