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Jay helps Cards take out Pirates

Apr 16, 2013 - 4:31 AM Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Jon Jay went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI as the St. Louis Cardinals used a seven-run second inning to take down the Pittsburgh Pirates, 10-6, on Monday night.

After each team scored a run in the first inning, Jay started the Cardinals second inning surge with a two-run double. Allen Craig and Matt Holliday each added two-run doubles in the inning while Carlos Beltran and Yadier Molina also had run-producing hits. Clint Barmes' two-out error proved to be costly for Pittsburgh, who could have escaped the inning trailing by just three runs.

Holliday and Molina had two hits apiece for St. Louis while Allen Craig knocked in three runs. The Cards have won five of their last six contests.

"We really had some good at bats and put some really good swings on balls that were in the zone," Craig said. "When we're putting good at bats together like that, our team does a really good job."

Lance Lynn (2-0) picked up the win despite allowing four runs and seven hits in five innings.

Starling Marte had three hits for Pittsburgh, giving him at least two hits in eight of his last nine games. Neil Walker went 2-for-5 with a home run and pinch-hitter Jose Tabata singled in both of his at-bats.

James McDonald (1-2) lasted just 1 2/3 innings before giving way to the Pirates bullpen, which allowed only two hits in the remaining 7 1/3 innings. McDonald was charged with eight runs - three of which were earned - and eight hits.

"I left the ball up, got behind guys," McDonald said of his outing. "I didn't keep my team in the game today and that's what happens when you make bad pitches, you get hit hard."

Holliday crushed a two-run double to deep center field in the top of the third to give St. Louis a 10-1 lead.

Pittsburgh got three back in the bottom half of the frame on Andrew McCutchen's RBI-double and Walker's two-run shot.

Marte and Michael McKenry added RBI singles in the eighth inning off of Mike Rzepczynski to round out the scoring.

Game Notes

Cardinals hitters struck out just twice ... Marte is on a nine-game hitting streak ... Pittsburgh out-hit St. Louis, 12-10 ... Pirates reliever Bryan Morris made his season debut with three no-hit innings out of the bullpen.