So Taguchi drove in two runs and David Eckstein scored three times for the defending World Series champions, who will be forced to watch the playoffs this time around when the three-game series concludes Sunday.

Matt Kata had two hits and the lone RBI for the Pirates, who assured themselves of a last-place finish with their 11th loss in the past 13 games.

The go-ahead run scored without a hit, when Eckstein led off the eighth with a walk and stole second. Rick Ankiel sacrificed him to third and Albert Pujols was intentionally walked by John Grabow (3-2), who hit Ryan Ludwick with a pitch. After getting ahead of Taguchi 1-2, Grabow walked in the go-ahead run.

Two batters and two pitchers later, Edmonds delivered a pinch-hit single to right that Steve Pearce dove for and missed. All three runners scored to make it 5-1.

Russ Springer (8-1) worked the seventh for his eighth victory, tying a career high.

Each team had a struggling starter on the mound, and both performed well.

Pittsburgh's Zach Duke, a rookie phenom two seasons ago, lowered his ERA to 5.53 in his third outing since coming off the disabled list due to an elbow injury. He allowed one run and eight hits without a walk in seven innings.

Todd Wellemeyer, a 29-year-old journeyman pitching for his fourth team in three years, made the start for St. Louis after coming out of the bullpen most of the second half. He allowed one run on three hits without a walk, striking out five ins ix innings.

Wellemeyer has worked 18 innings and allowed only two runs and six hits in his four starts since July 8.

Three of the first five batters of the game had hits off of Duke, culminating with a Taguchi RBI single.

Pittsburgh did not advance a runner past second until there were two outs in the sixth, when Matt Kata drove in Jack Wilson with a single to left. Wellemeyer's night ended a half-inning later when he was lifted for a pinch hitter.

Notes:@ Cardinals OF Ryan Ludwick extended his hitting streak to a career-high 11 games with a single in the sixth inning. ... The Cardinals are 9-2 in games Wellemeyer has started this season. ... Pujols grounded into two double plays, giving him 27 for the season. ... Pujols has gone 102 consecutive plate appearances without striking out, the longest active streak in the majors. He has not struck out in September.