This weekend’s matchup at PNC Park features the best team in the N.L. Central, the St. Louis Cardinals, against the worst team in the division, the Pittsburgh Pirates. St. Louis has certainly had the Bucs’ number so far this year, but Friday night was different. The Pirates handed the Cardinals an 8-2 loss.
Roansy Contreras continued to impress, giving up one run on four hits and two walks in 5.1 innings. He improved to 5-4 while lowering his ERA to 3.29 on the season. Miles Mikolas took the loss for the Cardinals, giving up four runs on eight hits in five innings.
Pittsburgh took the lead in the bottom of the second inning on a solo homerun by Ben Gamel. They added three runs in the bottom of the fifth. A two-run triple by Oneil Cruz scored Cal Mitchell and Jason Delay, making it 3-0. Bryan Reynolds’ RBI single scored Cruz and the Bucs led 4-0.
St. Louis attempted to get back into the game with a run in the sixth and seventh innings. Corey Dickerson’s groundout in the sixth scored their first run, and a double by Tommy Edman made it a 4-2 game.
But the Bucs officially put the game out of reach with four runs in the eighth inning. A triple by Michael Chavis scored a pair of runs, and was followed by RBI singles from Mitchell and Cruz to complete the scoring.
It has been a disastrous year for Pittsburgh. On the flip side, the Cardinals look well on their way to yet another division title. The Pirates have not faired well against their division rivals so far this year, but this was a nice start to this series. They now have a good opportunity to end this horrific series-losing streak they are enduring with a win over the next two days.
Record vs. Cardinals: 3-8
Record vs. N.L. Central: 24-33
Record at Home: 28-41
Overall Record: 51-86
And…
As Always…
Let’s Go Bucs!
