Burleson's double lifts Cardinals past Pirates 2-1; Skenes' troubles
against St. Louis continue
[May 07, 2025]
By JOE HARRIS
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Alec Burleson hit a two-run double,
Matthew Liberatore struck out eight in a season-high seven innings and
the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1 on Tuesday
night.
Liberatore (3-3) allowed just one run on three hits and
three walks as the Cardinals won a season-high fourth game in a row.
Gordon Graceffo earned his first career save with a perfect ninth. |
St. Louis Cardinals' Alec Burleson rounds first on his way to a two-run
double during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh
Pirates Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) |
|
Paul Skenes (3-4) allowed two runs on three
hits in six innings, striking out six and walking four as
Pittsburgh lost its sixth straight game and for the ninth time
in its last 10 games. Skenes fell to 0-4 in five career starts
against St. Louis.
Burleson’s two-out double in the sixth inning off Skenes scored
Nolan Arenado and Willson Contreras. Burleson (6 for 15) has
more career hits off Skenes than any other major leaguer.
Ke’Bryan Hayes’ opposite field double scored Oneil Cruz to give
the Pirates a 1-0 lead in the sixth inning. Hayes has hit safely
in 14 of his last 16 games and it was his third multihit game
out of his last four.
Hayes’ hit snapped a five-inning hitless stretch for Liberatore,
who had retired 17 of the previous 19 batters he faced.
Contreras, who walked twice, extended his on-base streak to nine
games.
Key moment
After the Pirates took the lead in the top of the sixth, Skenes
retired the first two batters before running into trouble in the
bottom of the frame. Arenado started the rally with a single and
Contreras walked before Burleson’s double.
Key stat
In his five starts against the Cardinals spanning 32 2/3
innings, Skenes has received just three total runs of support.
Up next
Pirates RHP Mitch Keller (1-3, 4.38 ERA) starts Wednesday in the
series finale, and RHP Sonny Gray (3-1, 4.12 ERA) goes for the
Cardinals.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights
reserved |
|
|
