A terrible weekend on the north shore concluded Sunday afternoon, as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates by an 18-4 score at PNC Park to complete the three-game series sweep.
Unlike the first two games of the series which were close at the end, Sunday afternoon’s game was an old fashioned beatdown from the beginning. The Cardinals tallied 18 runs on 20 hits, including six-run second inning which put the game away early.
Bryse Wilson started for Pittsburgh, taking the loss (0-3) after giving up seven runs on six hits and two walks in 1.2 innings of work. He was replaced by Tyler Beede, who also struggled in his two innings on the mound, giving up four runs on five hits. Each pitcher who saw action for Pittsburgh gave up at least one run, and the Cardinals showed no mercy as they piled up on the runs.
A RBI double by Nolan Gorman in the first inning scored the game’s first run, and the second inning onslaught began with a run scoring single by Harrison Bader. A two run double by Tommy Edman, a sacrifice fly by Nolan Arenado, and a two run double by Brendan Donovan completed the scoring, as St. Louis held a commanding 7-0 lead after two innings.
Four more runs scored in the fourth, as Juan Yepez singled home a run. Later in the inning, Corey Dickerson singled home a pair, followed by a single by Andrew Knizner. Albert Pujols hit the first of his two homeruns on the day in the fifth inning, making it 12-0. Edmundo Sosa doubled home a run in the eighth to make it 13-0, and then the Cardinals put up another crooked number (5) on two homeruns in the ninth. Bader blasted a two run homer, and later in the inning, Pujols crushed a three run shot to make it 18-0.
St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina pitched the ninth inning, which mercifully enabled the Pirates to get on the scoreboard. A solo homerun by Yoshi Tsutsugo ruined plans of a shutout, and after Ke’Bryan Hayes grounded out to score their second run, Jack Suwinski hit a two run homerun to make it 18-4, which would be the final score.
This was an embarrassing finale to a rough weekend at PNC Park for the Pirates. For the most part this season, they have been able to avoid series sweeps and/or prolonged losing streaks. But losing three straight games to a divisional opponent at home is a tough pill to swallow for any team.
Pittsburgh will open up a three game series against the Colorado Rockies tomorrow night at PNC Park. Former Pirate Chad Kuhl will take the mound for the Rockies against JT Brubaker for the Pirates.
Record vs. Cardinals: 1-5
Record vs. N.L. Central: 9-19
Record at Home: 9-13
Overall Record: 16-24
And…
As Always…
Let’s Go Bucs!
