The St. Louis Cardinals inched one game closer to the Cincinnati Reds with a 3-2 win on Friday night.

St. Louis now trails Cincinnati by seven games in the NL Central after taking the first of a three-game series.

Both of Friday’s starters had solid outings. Jaime Garcia went 6 2/3 innings allowing two runs on six hits while striking out six for the Cardinals to earn his 13th win of the year, strengthening his case as a candidate for the NL Rookie of the Year. Garcia was also 2-for-2 at the plate.

Bronson Arroyo (14-9) allowed three runs on six hits over six innings for Cincinnati to absorb the loss.

Skip Schumaker had two hits and drove in St. Louis’ third run with an RBI groundout in the second inning.

Albert Pujols, who is hitless in his last 16 trips to the plate, drove in his 96th run of the year with a sacrifice fly.

The Reds threatened in the eighth with two on and one out, but Kyle McClellan got out of the jam and turned it over to Ryan Franklin to close out the ninth with his 23rd save.

Paul Janish hit his fifth home run of the year in the third inning for the Reds.