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Lohse, Cardinals top Pirates

Apr 22, 2012 - 11:59 PM Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Kyle Lohse tossed seven superb innings on Sunday and the St. Louis Cardinals topped the Pittsburgh Pirates, 5-1, in the finale of a three-game set at PNC Park.

Lohse (3-0) gave up just one run on six hits without walking a batter while striking out five for the Cardinals, who took two of three games in the series.

Lohse improved to 4-1 in his career in Pittsburgh and the Cardinals are 4-0 in his starts this season while outscoring opponents 14-4.

"I feel like this is what I'm capable of doing, going out there and keeping the ball out of the middle of the plate and keeping it down," Lohse said. "I feel like I can be successful every time out."

Mitchell Boggs tossed a perfect eighth inning and Kyle McClellan closed it out in the ninth.

David Freese had a two-run single, Rafael Furcal went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored and Matt Holliday also knocked in a run.

Casey McGehee drove in the only run of the day for the Pirates, who got seven innings from starter Erik Bedard in defeat.

Bedard (0-4) gave up three runs -- two earned -- on seven hits and four walks while fanning seven.

"I thought it was a very blue-collar effort from Erik today," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "He battled and gave us seven, but was maybe just a tick off today."

St. Louis jumped on top with a run in its first at-bat. Furcal led off the game with a single up the middle, Tyler Greene reached on a bunt single, and Holliday walked to load the bases with no outs. Carlos Beltran then grounded into a double play, which allowed Furcal to score.

Furcal opened the Cardinals' third with a double off the center field wall and Greene worked a walk. After Holliday flied out, Greene moved to second on a passed ball and both runners touched home on a two-run single by Freese to extend the lead to 3-0.

Pittsburgh put together a threat in the sixth when Jose Tabata doubled to left field and advanced to third on a foul out by Andrew McCutchen, but Neil Walker then fouled out to Freese at third to end the frame.

The Bucs finally cracked the scoreboard in the eighth when Michael McKenry doubled to start the inning and came around to score on a single up the middle by pinch-hitter McGehee.

The Cards added two more runs in the ninth on RBI singles by Holliday and Furcal to account for the final margin.

Game Notes

In 11 of their first 15 games, either the Pirates or their opponent have scored in the first inning...It was Bedard's first career start against the Cardinals...Pittsburgh had managed just three runs in Bedard's four starts this season...St. Louis went 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight, while the Pirates finished 1-for-5 with men in scoring position and left four on base.