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Michaels gives Pirates thrilling win over Cardinals in 10

Jul 13, 2008 - 4:55 AM PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- One swing ended a wild night at PNC Park.

Jason Michaels belted a two-run homer in the bottom of the 10th inning to complete a thrilling comeback as the Pittsburgh Pirates edged the St. Louis Cardinals, 12-11, on Saturday.

Michaels' shot off Chris Perez (2-1) with one out was his first career walk-off homer and first game-winning RBI since June 19, 2002 against the Chicago White Sox while with the Philadelphia Phillies.

"It was a weird game," Michaels said. "It was one of those games, you keep going up. You don't want to make a stupid out. We just couldn't get anything going. But we just hung around, battled long enough, and ended up getting ourselves in the position to eventually win the game."

The Pirates scored nine runs over their last four innings and overcame Troy Glaus' go-ahead solo homer in the top of the 10th off Denny Bautista (3-1). They erased a six-run deficit and scored four times in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game.

It was just one of the games that got away, but I give the Pirates credit," St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said. "We know they always play nine innings and sometimes 10. It was unfortunate that we got beat in a game we scored 11 runs. That's the most unfortunate part."

All-Star Nate McLouth launched a three-run homer off Jason Isringhausen, who immediately was lifted for Kyle McClellan. Luis Rivas and Ryan Doumit delivered back-to-back singles before Jason Bay plated the tying run with a grounder.

"It's just part of baseball," Isringhausen said. "If you throw it up there it up there a few times, you're going to hit. I went in with a four-run lead and I gave up three, so it's my fault for doing that. I made a bad pitch to McLouth who's having a good year. What are you going to do?"

Bay also blasted a two-run homer in the eighth that cut the deficit to 10-6.

"We like to play extra innings," Bay said. "And given our record, we should play more. That was one of the more amazing games I've ever been involved. And it was something I'll never forget."

Cardinals relievers have now combined for 20 losses this season and lead the major leagues with 22 blown saves.

"It was one of the games we really got at it," Pittsburgh manager John Russell said. "It looked at times we really got outplayed. It looked at times we got really got outpitched. But we scored more runs. It's hard to explain, but I think the biggest thing is these guys never quit."

Ryan Ludwick collected three hits - including a two-run homer - and four RBI for St. Louis, which scored in six straight innings and had seven players with multi-hit efforts.

The Cardinals surpassed their season high in hits and were in control for the majority of the game. Pirates starter Yoslan Herrera, who was making his major league debut, was tagged for six runs and 11 hits in just 4 1/3 innings.

"It doesn't feel wasted," St. Louis infielder Aaron Miles said. "It's just a reminder that this game is never done until it's over. You don't take it for granted. There's no time limit, you can't run out the clock."

In the third, Yadier Molina gave St. Louis a 3-2 lead - one it would not relinquish until the ninth - with an RBI single.

Rick Ankiel, who went 2-for-5, left in the seventh inning with an injured left ankle. He suffered the injury while falling in the batter's box after hitting a grounder to shortstop that ended the top of the seventh.