The Pittsburgh Pirates met with the National League Central division leader St. Louis Cardinals and lost 2-1 in extra innings.
Matt Adams hit an opposite field walk-off single off Rob Scahill [0-2] with the bases loaded to bring Jon Jay across home plate.
A.J. Burnett provided the Pirates with its lone run of the game in the sixth inning with a single to center field. The Pirates had the bases loaded with no outs in the inning against Lance Lynn and were unable to score any further runs.
It was a 32 pitch inning for Lynn that included a single, double, single and walk to score the run and also load the bases for the Pirates second through fourth hitters. Lynn was able to limit the damage to the one run getting Josh Harrison to pop out to first base and striking out both Andrew McCutchen and Neil Walker.
Burnett ended his outing after six innings, finishing with an Adams double play. Burnett’s outing also included two hits allowed, three walks and seven strikeouts in 97 pitches, 61 of which were strikes. Burnett lowered his ERA to 1.45 on the season.
Up 1-0 the Pirates used three relievers in the seventh inning. Arquimedes Caminero allowed a single and walked a batter before getting Yadier Molina to line out to Jordy Mercer. Mercer tried to get Jhonny Peralta, the runner on second base out but after a review was unsuccessful. The replay allowed for both Antonio Bastardo and Jared Hughes to prepare to replace Caminero.
Bastardo first got the call against Kolten Wong in a left-on-left match-up. Bastardo was able to strikeout Wong and manager Clint Hurdle came out again and brought Hughes in to face pinch hitter Mark Reynolds. With the Pirates in a shift, Hughes got a ground ball but in the one position the infielders were not positioned. While Walker stopped the ball to prevent a second run from scoring, this play did tie the game.
The Cardinals threatened again in the eighth inning however Tony Watson got another double play with Matt Holliday the batter.
This game went into extra innings and the Pirates had an opportunity after Francisco Cervelli and Sean Rodriguez each singled putting runners on first and third base. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny replaced reliever Matt Belisle with Randy Choate [1-0].
Similar to Hurdle’s move earlier in the game, Matheny went with a left-on-left match-up with Gregory Polanco at the plate. Polanco got ahead 2-0, however Choate got back into the at-bat and ultimately got his man with a strikeout.
Scahill came in for his second inning of work and got the first two outs on four pitches. Jay followed with a single and Matt Carpenter hit his 14th double of the season bringing Holliday to the plate. After a mound visit, Scahill walked Holliday and got to Adams. Adams hit a 1-1 fastball to left field ending the game.
The Cardinals now sit at 16-6 on the season which is the best record in all of baseball.
These two teams will continue its series Saturday at 2:15 when Francisco Liriano [1-1 2.22 ERA] takes on John Lackey [1-1 4.21 ERA]. Liriano is 4-1 with a 1.98 ERA in his eight career starts against the Cardinals. He posted an 0-1 record with a 3.32 ERA in four starts last season. Lackey is 1-1 against the Pirates and this is his first start against them away from PNC Park.
Photo credit: Ross D. Franklin/AP
