The St. Louis Cardinals broke out their brooms prior to leaving PNC Park this afternoon. Today they completed a three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 7-6 win. The win also was the tenth straight win for St. Louis in Pittsburgh. Another streak that continued today was the Pirates losing streak reaching eight games.
The Cardinals jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when Nolan Arenado doubled to left to plate Dylan Carlson. Pittsburgh was quick to respond with a three-run home run by Colin Moran in the bottom half of the inning. The Pirates would maintain that lead up until the fourth inning. In the fourth, St. Louis would get a two-run homer from Paul DeJong and Lars Nootbaar to take a 5-3 lead.
Neither starting pitcher did much while on the mound today. Wade LeBlanc lasted only two innings, giving up three runs on three hits with one walk and one strikeout. JT Brubaker continued to look like a guy that may need to be shut down sooner rather than later, as he has gone way past his previous career high of innings pitched in a season. Brubaker went five innings and allowed five runs on five hits, with two walks and four strikeouts.
In the bottom half of the fourth Moran would strike with his second home run of the day, this one of the solo variety. That would get his team back to within one run. A ground out by Andrew Knizner in the sixth would plate a run and put the Cardinals back up by two runs. They would get that lead up to three in the ninth on a Paul Goldschmidt RBI double to right.
The final runs of the day came in the bottom of the ninth when Bryan Reynolds hit a two-run shot to right field. St. Louis would use six pitchers out of the bullpen today and over that time they would combine to allow three runs on seven hits with ten strikeouts. Pittsburgh used three out of the pen and they would total two runs on four hits with six strikeouts and two walks.
This was a very ugly and frustrating series for the Pirates. It will not get any easier for their next series, when they welcome the Milwaukee Brewers to town for a three-games. Milwaukee has dominated the Buccos this year and will look to continue that trend as they make a run to the postseason. First pitch for the series opener is scheduled for 7:05pm on Friday.
Record vs. Cardinals: 3-9
Record vs. N.L. Central: 12-38
Record at Home: 23-33
Overall Record: 41-74
And…
As Always…
Let’s Go Bucs!
