A big first inning and some stellar work from the bullpen helped the St. Louis Cardinals edge the visiting Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 on Wednesday to grab a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven National League Championship Series.

Jon Jay, Albert Pujols and David Freese each recorded an RBI double in the four-run first inning for the Cardinals, who will send Kyle Lohse to the mound in Game 4 on Thursday.

Needing a strong start after Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum were roughed up in the first two games, the Brewers turned to ace Yovani Gallardo (0-1). The righthander just did not have it at the beginning, allowing the first five batters to reach safely on three hits and a pair of walks.

Gallardo got Yadier Molina to ground into a double play with the bases loaded, but Freese followed with a double just over the outstretched glove of right fielder Corey Hart to cap the four-run frame.

Chris Carpenter (1-0) attempted to give all the runs back, yielding two in the second and one more in the third on Mark Kotsay’s solo homer, but settled down to make it through five innings.

St. Louis, which finished second in blown saves with 26 during the regular season, has been strong in the playoffs. Four different relievers combined for four perfect innings Wednesday, with Jason Motte working the final 1 1/3 frames to pick up the save.

The Brewers will be looking to avoid a 3-1 hole behind Randy Wolf in Game 4.