Ike Davis’s eight inning pinch-hit three-run home run helped propel the Pirates to a 5-2 victory over the National League Wild Card-leading Cardinals on Tuesday night .
Davis’s shot helped bail out Tony Watson, who allowed the Cardinals (71-60) to tie the game at two in the seventh after Gerrit Cole held St. Louis scoreless through six innings.
Cole had a no-hitter going through 5 2/3 innings before Kolten Wong snuck a grounder inside the first base line for a double. Cole then came back for the seventh inning with the Pirates (68-64) leading 2-0 despite being at 104 pitches.
“We had figured out with the extra day off he’d go 115 pitches, so we ran him back out there.” said manager Clint Hurdle.
Cole proceeded to allow a lead off double by Matt Adams and a single to Jhonny Peralta ending his night.
“I felt good,” said Cole. “I just wish I was more efficient. I kind of ran out of bullets towards the end. I just have to pound the zone more a little bit earlier.”
Watson (9-1) came in and allowed a sacrifice fly to Jon Jay. Oscar Taveras then hit a two-out single and Randal Grichuk hit a pinch-hit RBI single to center to tie things at two.
After the Pirates went quietly in the seventh on five pitches, they went to work on Cardinals reliever Seth Maness in the eighth. Gaby Sanchez — who replaced an injured Pedro Alvarez in the seventh inning — and Starling Marte both reached on one-out singles.
Davis was then called upon in Watson’s spot to face the righty. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny had left-handed specialist Randy Choate warming in the bullpen, but decided to stick with Maness knowing Hurdle would then use Jordy Mercer as a pinch-hitter.
The decision backfired as Davis sent a 2-2 changeup over the right-center field seats to give the Pirates the lead back.
“[Maness] left the changeup up a little higher than he wanted and I hit it pretty good,” said Davis.
Mark Melancon worked a scoreless ninth for his 23rd save of the season.
Josh Harrison hit his 12th home run — a solo shot in the fifth — while Clint Barmes provided the other RBI in his first action since coming off the 15-day DL.
Final Score: Pirates 5, Cardinals 2.
Injury Update: Andrew McCutchen left tonight’s game with “left rib discomfort”. He said it was more for precautionary reasons.
“I wasn’t feeling the best today, and then hitting the wall didn’t make it any better,” McCutchen said. “It’s not a big deal, though. I just thought it was time to get out of there before it got worse and so I could be back in the lineup [Wednesday afternoon]. It worked out fine. I got to rest it and we won the game.”
Pedro Alvarez also left the game with “left foot discomfort.
“It’s a left foot sprain,” said Hurdle. “He had to come out of the game. I think the [training staff] mentioned it was between his toes, so we’ll have to wait and see.”
Starters Lines
Cole (ND): 6+ IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 9 K’s, 1 HBP. 108 Pitches (69 Strikes).
Lynn (ND): 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K’s, 1 HBP, 1 HR. 105 Pitches (70 Strikes).
The Pirates will look to take the series in tomorrow afternoon’s rubber match.
Tomorrow’s Starters
(LHP) Jeff Locke (PIT): 5-3, 3.69 ERA
(RHP) Adam Wainwright (STL): 15-8, 2.52 ERA
First pitch is set for 12:35.
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(Photo Credit: AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
