Yadier Molina scored from second on a game-winning single by Peter Bourjos in the ninth inning Wednesday, sending the Pittsburgh Pirates (71-68) to a series sweep to the NL Central division-leading St. Louis Cardinals (76-63) and a fourth consecutive loss.
In a series in which everything seemed to go the way of the Cardinals, the Pirates failed to drive home any runs through nine innings before Mark Melancon (2-4) allowed a walk to Molina and two singles in his second inning of work. Jon Jay moved Molina to second before Bourjos had the walk-off hit, giving St. Louis a 1-0 victory.
Pittsburgh is now five games out of first place after a winless visit to Busch Stadium to start a ten-game road trip. After a day off Thursday, the Pirates begin a weekend series at Chicago before heading to Philadelphia for four. They are now five games back of San Francisco for the top Wild Card spot, 2.5 behind Milwaukee and one behind Atlanta.
Edinson Volquez threw 6.1 sharp innings, allowing just three hits and two walks. He struck out five and lowered his ERA to 3.31 in a tough no decision. Tony Watson got the final two outs in the seventh, inheriting a base runner who was thrown out at third base by Russell Martin after a strikeout, ending the threat. Melancon pitched a perfect eighth but struggled in his second inning of work, something he has rarely been asked to do this season.
There was drama earlier in the game, despite no runs on the scoreboard at the time, when Cardinals starter Shelby Miller threw a pitch behind the back of Andrew McCutchen in the sixth. It was likely in retaliation to Volquez hitting Matt Holliday two innings prior. McCutchen walked away smiling as the home plate umpire quickly warned both benches. Russell Martin, coming back out to catch the bottom of the sixth inning, exchanged words with the Cardinals dugout and manager Mike Matheny.
Pittsburgh will need to cool down and collect themselves in order to snap this streak at Wrigley Field, where the Cubs series begins with a 2:20 first pitch. Tsuyoshi Wada (4-2) will face Pirates starter Vance Worley (6-4). The Pirates are the fourth-worst road team in the National League, sporting just a 27-40 record away from PNC Park.
