May 31, 2008 - 11:33 PM
0 shoutsBy Thad Kemlage PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer
ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- Luis Rivas hit his first career grand slam and led an offensive breakout as the Pittsburgh Pirates cruised to a 14-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday.
Freddy Sanchez and Ronny Paulino each hit two-run home runs for Pittsburgh, which pounded out a season-high 19 hits.
Pittsburgh jumped all over St. Louis rookie starter Mike Parisi. Xavier Nady highlighted a four-run first inning with a bases-clearing double. Troy Glaus cut the lead to 4-1 with a solo shot in the third, but the Pirates continued to hammer Parisi in the third.
Adam LaRoche drew a leadoff walk, Jose Bautista singled and Paulino singled to extend the lead to 5-1. Two batters later, Kelvin Jimenez relieved Parisi, and Rivas belted his second offering over the left field wall for a 9-1 lead.
"It feels amazing," Rivas said of his first career grand slam. "It's fun playing in a game like that."
"These guys have been scrappy all year," Pirates manager John Russell said, "and take a lot of pride in not giving away at-bats and giving away innings."
In his first career start, Parisi allowed eight runs on eight hits and three walks over only 2 2/3 innings.
"I felt like I was in control of my emotions, but I learned that if I leave the ball up then I'm going to get beat up," Parisi said.
Paul Maholm (3-5) benefited from Parisi's struggles and won his first game since April 27 by allowing one run on four hits with five strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.
"With a lead like that, you got to make sure you're challenging guys, not putting your defense to sleep by getting behind guys, and I feel like I executed pretty well," Maholm said.
Albert Pujols went 2-for-3, raising his season average to .369, his highest career batting average this deep into the season.
From the Bleachers
-
PITTSBURGH: 14
ST. LOUIS: 4
Final
May 31 10:22 PM -
NL
AT ST LOUIS - SCORING UPDATE
ERROR BY LUIS RIVAS ALLOWED RYAN LUDWICK TO SCORE.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, B BARTON ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 14
ST LOUIS 4 BOTTOM, 8TH
DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: R ANKIEL (.270, 0-FOR-3)
May 31 10:07 PM -
NL
AT ST LOUIS - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY RYAN LUDWICK SCORED SKIP SCHUMAKER.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, R LUDWICK ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 14
ST LOUIS 3 BOTTOM, 8TH
DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: B BARTON (.262, 0-FOR-1)
May 31 10:06 PM -
NL
AT ST LOUIS - SCORING UPDATE
NATE MCLOUTH HIT BY RON VILLONE PITCH WITH BASES LOADED
SCORED JASON MICHAELS.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, N MCLOUTH ON FIRST, R PAULINO ON SECOND, J
BAUTISTA ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 14
ST LOUIS 2 TOP, 8TH
DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: L RIV
May 31 9:55 PM -
NL
AT ST LOUIS - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY AARON MILES SCORED JASON LARUE.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A MILES ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 13
ST LOUIS 2 BOTTOM, 7TH
DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: C IZTURIS (.261, 0-FOR-2)
May 31 9:34 PM -
NL
AT ST LOUIS - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY RONNY PAULINO (2) TO CENTER WITH 2 OUT
IN THE 6TH OFF KELVIN JIMENEZ SCORED JOSE BAUTISTA.
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 13, ST LOUIS 1
DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: P MAHOLM (.200, 1-FOR-2, SAC)
May 31 8:59 PM -
NL
AT ST LOUIS - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY FREDDY SANCHEZ (2) TO CENTER WITH 2 OUT
IN THE 5TH OFF KELVIN JIMENEZ SCORED NATE MCLOUTH.
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 11, ST LOUIS 1
DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: J BAY (.295, 1-FOR-2, BB)
May 31 8:40 PM -
NL
AT ST LOUIS - SCORING UPDATE
GRAND SLAM BY LUIS RIVAS (3) TO LEFT WITH 2 OUT IN THE 3RD
OFF KELVIN JIMENEZ SCORED JOSE BAUTISTA, RONNY PAULINO AND NATE
MCLOUTH.
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 9, ST LOUIS 1
DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: F SANCHEZ (.241, 1-FOR-2)
May 31 8:09 PM -
NL
AT ST LOUIS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY RONNY PAULINO SCORED ADAM LAROCHE.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, R PAULINO ON FIRST, J BAUTISTA ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 5
ST LOUIS 1 TOP, 3RD
DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: P MAHOLM (.211, 1-FOR-1)
May 31 8:02 PM -
NL
AT ST LOUIS - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY TROY GLAUS (3) TO LEFT CENTER WITH 1 OUT
IN THE 2ND OFF PAUL MAHOLM.
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 4, ST LOUIS 1
DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: R ANKIEL (.274, 8 HR, 25 RBI)
May 31 7:50 PM -
NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
PITTSBURGH 4 4 4 0
ST LOUIS 0 0 0 (BOT 1)
CURRENT PITCHERS: PIT - PAUL MAHOLM
STL - MIKE PARISI
DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: B RYA
May 31 7:31 PM
