Matthew Liberatore struck out six over 5 2/3 innings and JJ Wetherholt had three hits and an RBI to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-1 win over the host Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night.
Liberatore (6-14) allowed only one run — a solo home run by Brandon Lowe — on six hits and no walks, helping the Cardinals (77-81) snap the Pirates’ season-high five-game winning streak.
Lowe had two hits, as did Ryan O’Hearn, who had a pair of doubles, to lead Pittsburgh (80-78).
Lowe’s 434-foot blast to right-center field was his 34th home run of the season and 94th RBI, putting the Pirates ahead 1-0 in the second inning. O’Hearn doubled with two outs and Jared Triolo singled to put runners on the corners. But Liberatore recovered by striking out Jake Mangum to end the inning.
But St. Louis answered quickly with three runs in the third and two more in the fourth.
Wetherholt started the third-inning rally with a one-out single off Pirates reliever Brandon Eisert (3-3), who entered for opener Lake Bachar after he pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Wetherholt scored two batters later on an RBI single by Alec Burleson to tie the game at 1.
Khristian Curtis induced a popup from Jordan Walker, but a wild pitch allowed Ivan Herrera to score and give the Cardinals the lead for good. Leo Bernal singled to drive in Burleson to make it 3-1.
Masyn Winn doubled to drive home Jose Fermin in the fourth after Fermin singled to open the frame. Wetherholt followed with an RBI single, giving the Cardinals a 5-1 lead. Fermin finished with two hits.
St. Louis’ bullpen did the rest as Luis Gastelum, Ryne Stanek and George Soriano combined to pitch 3 1/3 scoreless innings once Liberatore exited after 81 pitches. The Pirates managed only three hits after the second inning. Lowe had one of them in the fourth with one out. But Liberatore induced a double-play ball from Ronny Simon that the Cardinals turned to end the inning.
