Final
for this game
Pirates, Cards open critical NL Central set
Sep 6, 2013 - 2:38 PM (Sports Network) - An important NL Central battle is on tap Friday, as the Pittsburgh Pirates open a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.The Pirates are just 1 1/2 games ahead of the Cardinals in the division, but failed to increase that lead on Thursday, as they were denied a three-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers with Wednesday's 9-3 loss at Miller Park.
Francisco Liriano was hammered in his three innings of work and allowed seven runs and seven hits. Andrew McCutchen homered and newcomer Marlon Byrd added three hits and an RBI for the Pirates, who had won five of seven games.
"Just missing my spots, And you have to give credit to the hitters; they were taking pretty good swings," Liriano said afterward.
Pittsburgh will also visit Texas on its current road trip and hopes A.J. Burnett can pitch the club back into the win column. Burnett is 7-9 with a 3.09 earned run average in 25 starts and threw seven innings of one-run ball in last Saturday's 7-1 win over the Cardinals.
Burnett, a right-hander, is 8-5 with a 3.79 ERA in 16 career starts against the Cardinals.
St. Louis, meanwhile, will kick off a nine-game homestand Friday versus the Pirates, Brewers and Mariners, and enters having lost six of eight games.
In Thursday's 6-2 loss at Cincinnati in the finale of a four-game set, Lance Lynn was dealt the loss for giving up four runs in five innings.
"If you look at the game overall, I made three bad pitches that they hit for three home runs," Lynn said. "That usually doesn't happen. You take away those three pitches, and it's a totally different ballgame."
David Freese homered in the loss for the Cardinals, who currently lead the NL wild card race.
Joe Kelly gets the start for St. Louis and is 7-3 with a 3.20 earned run average in 32 games (11 starts) this season. Kelly hasn't lost since June 5 and is 7-0 with a 1.72 ERA in his last nine starts. The Cardinals are 8-1 in that time.
Kelly has faced the Pirates seven times (3 starts) in his career and is 2-2 with a 3.81 ERA.
Pittsburgh is 10-6 against the Cardinals this season.
- PITTSBURGH: 8
ST. LOUIS: 12
Final
Sep 7 12:04 AM - Jose Tabata doubled to right scored John Buck and Tony Sanchez with two outs. On the play, Clint Barmes advances to third. Runners on second and third and Josh Harrison due up.
Pirates 8, Cardinals 12 Top 9, 2 OutsSep 7 12:00 AM - Clint Barmes walked. Gaby Sanchez scored with one out on the play. Bases loaded and Garrett Jones due up.
Pirates 6, Cardinals 12 Top 9, 1 OutSep 6 11:53 PM - Pinch-Hitter Josh Harrison two-out, two-run Home Run (3) to left center scored Clint Barmes. Andrew McCutchen due up.
Pirates 5, Cardinals 12 Top 8, 2 OutsSep 6 11:31 PM - Pinch-Hitter Garrett Jones grounded out third to first scored Tony Sanchez with one out. Runner on second and Jose Tabata due up.
Pirates 3, Cardinals 12 Top 8, 1 OutSep 6 11:28 PM - Clint Barmes reached first on Pete Kozma's throwing error scored Pedro Alvarez with none out. On the play, Tony Sanchez advances to third. Runners on second and third and Vin Mazzaro due up.
Pirates 2, Cardinals 12 Top 8, 0 OutsSep 6 11:27 PM - Yadier Molina none-out, three-run Home Run (11) to left center scored Shane Robinson and Adron Chambers. Matt Adams due up.
Pirates 1, Cardinals 12 Bot 7, 0 OutsSep 6 11:01 PM - Matt Holliday doubled to left scored Jon Jay with none out. Runner on second and Carlos Beltran due up.
Pirates 1, Cardinals 9 Bot 7, 0 OutsSep 6 10:53 PM - Jon Jay singled to center scored Pete Kozma and Matt Carpenter with none out. Runner on first and Matt Holliday due up.
Pirates 1, Cardinals 8 Bot 7, 0 OutsSep 6 10:50 PM - Matt Carpenter doubled to right scored Daniel Descalso with none out. On the play, Pete Kozma advances to third. Runners on second and third and Jon Jay due up.
Pirates 1, Cardinals 6 Bot 7, 0 OutsSep 6 10:48 PM - Pedro Alvarez singled to center scored Andrew McCutchen with two outs. On the play, Marlon Byrd advances to second. Runners on first and second and Russell Martin due up.
Pirates 1, Cardinals 5 Top 5, 2 OutsSep 6 9:59 PM - Carlos Beltran doubled to center scored Matt Holliday with none out. Runner on second and Yadier Molina due up.
Pirates 0, Cardinals 5 Bot 3, 0 OutsSep 6 9:21 PM - Matt Holliday doubled to right scored Jon Jay with none out. Runner on second and Carlos Beltran due up.
Pirates 0, Cardinals 4 Bot 3, 0 OutsSep 6 9:19 PM - Jon Jay doubled to left scored Matt Carpenter with none out. Runner on second and Matt Holliday due up.
Pirates 0, Cardinals 3 Bot 3, 0 OutsSep 6 9:14 PM - Carlos Beltran singled to center scored Matt Carpenter and Jon Jay with one out, advances to second on Andrew McCutchen's fielding error. Runner on second with one out and Yadier Molina due up.
Pirates 0, Cardinals 2 Bot 1, 1 OutSep 6 8:38 PM - PITTSBURGH: 0
ST. LOUIS: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Sep 6 8:16 PM
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