CHRISTOPHER PANSINO – OVATHLETICS.COM
Winning a series has been difficult for the Pirates this season. They have won just twelve all season and only three since the All-Star break ended. But tonight the Pirates added another to the list, as they were able to out play the NL Central contending Cardinals for the series win.
It was a big night for Daniel McCutchen who pitched at a level expected in the major leagues. McCutchen pitched six inning allowing only three hits and two walks. McCutchen struck out five including Albert Pujols in the fourth.
Pujols was a non-factor in this game going 0 for 4 including a strikeout.
Meanwhile the Pirates were able to rack up early runs on an RBI triple by Neil Walker. The three run triple scored Daniel McCutchen, Andrew McCutchen, and Jose Tabata. Walker, who has made big improvements this season, finished 1 for 4 on the night.
The Pirates would add insurance runs in the fifth and eighth inning to help cement their win tonight. RBI single by Tabata in the fifth and a Garrett Jones homer in the eighth got the Pirates more than enough run support to keep ahead of St. Louis’s two late inning runs.
The Pirates will meet the Cardinals two more times before the end of the season. The two teams with meet on Tuesday September 21 and again on Monday September 27. With the NL Central possibly up for grabs the Pirates might face a much more determined opponent next time.
The Pirates will have Thursday off before traveling to Milwaukee for a weekend series with the Brewers.
