PITTSBURGH – Kyle Lohse limited the Pirates to six hits over seven shutout innings and Rick Ankiel and Ryan Ludwick homered, helping St. Louis break out of a scoring slump with a 6-0 victory over Pittsburgh on Friday night.

Lohse (11-2), one of the NL’s biggest first-half pitching surprises, won his eighth in a row by limiting the Pirates to one extra-base hit. He hasn’t lost in 12 starts since May 9, giving up two runs or fewer in all but two of his last 10 starts.