LDN - Sports

Cardinals capitalize on Mercer's error to edge Pirates

[September 23, 2017] PITTSBURGH -- Jedd Gyorko produced the game-tying pinch hit single in the ninth inning and Randal Grichuk scored the go-ahead run on a fielding error by shortstop Jordy Mercer as the St. Louis Cardinals edged the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 on Friday night.

Trailing 3-2 against Pittsburgh closer Felipe Rivero (5-3), Stephen Piscotty led off the ninth with a double off the wall in right against reliever George Kontos and was replaced by pinch-runner Harrison Bader.

After Carson Kelly flied out, Gyorko singled to center to drive in Bader for a 3-3 tie. Following a single by Tommy Pham, Dexter Fowler hit a ground ball to Mercer at shortstop.

Mercer got handcuffed by the ball and Grichuk scored on the misplay.

The Pirates scratched out a run in the seventh to break a 2-2 tie when shortstop Paul DeJong's flip to second baseman Kolten Wong was high. His error on what could have been a double play by pinch-hitter John Jaso allowed pinch-runner Max Moroff to score from third.

Juan Nicasio (5-5) pitched two innings for the win.

St. Louis (81-72) won its fourth in a row as it tries to stay in the National League wild card race and perhaps the chase for first in the NL Central. The Cardinals began the night one game out of the second wild card spot and five games behind the first-place Chicago Cubs.

Pittsburgh (69-85) lost for the eighth time in nine games.

Each starter went five innings and did not get a decision.

St. Louis right-hander Michael Wacha allowed three hits, with a walk and four strikeouts.

Pittsburgh right-hander Ivan Nova avoided reaching a National League-high 15 losses by allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits. He also committed a throwing error that allowed the unearned run to score.

[to top of second column]

Cardinals pinch hitter Jedd Gyorko (3) hits an RBI single against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the ninth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The Cardinals got a run in each of the first two innings.

Dexter Fowler's single up the middle drove in Matt Carpenter, who led off with a double off the wall in right, to make it 1-0 in the first inning.

In the second, DeJong opened with an infield single, and moved to second on Wong's single to right. One out later, DeJong scored when Nova threw off-target to third for an error on Wacha's weak grounder.

Pittsburgh tied it 2-2 in the fourth. Starling Marte drew a walk and, an out later, moved to third on Josh Bell's base hit to right. David Freese drove in Marte with a double off the wall in center, and Bell scored on Gregory Polanco's fielder's choice when a throw home was too late.

NOTES: St. Louis 1B Jose Martinez left in the seventh because of left thumb soreness. ... Pittsburgh's three by-trade OFs -- LF Starling Marte, CF Andrew McCutchen and RF Gregory Polanco -- all started for just the 10th time since July 22. ... Pittsburgh RHP Ivan Nova's 30thstart triggered a $750,000 bonus in his contract. ... St. Louis manager Mike Matheny turned 47 on Friday.

Back to top