Neil Walker sent a 2-2 pitch by Carlos Martinez into the Clemente seats to help the Pirates (15-20) get past the Cardinals (18-18) 6-4 in the first game of a weekend three-game set.
Walker finished off the three-run rally started by a Jordy Mercer single — who finished 3-for-4 on the night with a double and run scored — and a Gaby Sanchez pinch-hit single. After Jose Tabata bunted the two into scoring position, Walker provided the big blow a pitch after he nearly connected, but hit foul.
“It was two sliders there, the one I fouled off 2-1 and he kind of left one up a little bit more on the second pitch and I was able to obviously do what I did.”
The home run completed the second comeback on the night for the Pirates as they fought back from 3-2 and 4-3 helping starter Francisco Liriano get the no decision.
Liriano was given an early 2-0 lead when the Pirates struck quickly in the first. Jose Tabata and Walker led it off with singles. Pedro Alvarez walked with one out to load the bases and Ike Davis knocked two in with an opposite field double down the left field line.
The Cardinals regained the lead in the fourth after Liriano cruised through the first three innings. Jhonny Peralta and Matt Holliday started the inning off with singles. Liriano then retired Matt Adams and Yadier Molina before allowing a three-run homer to Allen Craig into the Cards bullpen.
The weather changed in the Cardinals favor during the at bat as a rainstorm with a high wind out to left field picked up prior to the pitch, but Liriano blames the shot on bad location and not mother nature.
“I felt the same [during the storm] as the first couple of innings. I just hung a pitch and got hurt by it so, it was just a mistake pitch.”
Walker tied the game in the fifth when he singled home Tabata after Jose led the inning off with a double. It would be a short-lived tie though, as Peralta hit an elevated Jeanmar Gomez fastball into the bushes to regain the lead in the seventh.
That set up Walker’s heroics in the bottom of the inning which ended up being the final blow in the game as the Shark Tank trio of Justin Wilson, Tony Watson and Mark Melancon (3rd save) closed things down.
Final Score: Pirates 6, Cardinals 4
Starters Lines
Liriano (ND): 5 IN, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 5 K’s, 1 HR. 96 Pitches (55 Strikes).
Wacha (ND): 5 IN, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 7 K’s. 91 Pitches (57 Strikes).
These two will be back in action for game two of the three-game set tomorrow evening.
Tomorrow’s Starters
(RHP) Edinson Volquez (PIT): 1-3, 4.19 ERA
(RHP) Lance Lynn (STL): 4-1, 3.51 ERA
First pitch is set for 7:05.
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(Photo Credit:Getty Images)
