Cardinals 10-5 Pirates (September 18, 2024) Game Summary

ST. LOUIS – Jordan Walker hit a base-loaded double to cap a six-run seventh inning and help the St. Louis Cardinals to a 10-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the third game of a four-game series on Wednesday night.

“It was a fastball,” Walker said. “It was a pitch I wanted to hit. He threw me a fastball. I just threw my hands at it and everything went in my favor.”

Brendan Donovan hit a two-run homer and Masyn Winn added a solo homer. Nolan Arenado scored one run, had three hits and walked two.

Billy Cook, who was called up to the first team on September 8, hit his first major league home run – a three-run blast – for the Pirates, who acquired him from the Orioles at the trade deadline.

“I'm grateful it worked out,” Cook said. “I just relaxed and it worked out.”

Rookie Michael McGreevy (2-0) pitched the final three innings without allowing a run, throwing four strikeouts and allowing just two hits. It was the first time he pitched as a relief pitcher since 2019, when he was a student at UC Santa Barbara.

“When I got on the mound, everything felt natural,” McGreevy said. “Just attack the hitters. When you have a five-run lead, you just have to get them.”

David Bednar (3-8) had to accept the loss. He allowed three runs in one-third of the inning as a reliever, two of them earned.

Pittsburgh starter Jake Woodford made his first appearance against his former team and went 4 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on eight hits, with five strikeouts and no walks.

Cardinals starter Sonny Gray pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on nine hits. He had eight strikeouts and eclipsed the 200-strikeout mark for the second time in his career. Gray had 205 strikeouts as a member of the Reds in 2019.

“It's a great achievement,” Gray said. “It's not easy to achieve.”

Winn began the seventh inning with a home run to tie the game at 5-5. Bednar left with one out and two men on base. Iván Herrera, who had three hits, and Lars Nootbaar each scored a run with singles with the bases loaded. Walker cleared the bases with a double down the third base line to extend the lead to 10-5.

“I have to bring something to the game in this situation,” Walker said. “I wanted to hit hard.”

The Pirates took a 5-4 lead in the sixth inning when they chased Gray away. After striking out the first two batters, Gray allowed back-to-back singles by Nick Yorke and Jared Triolo. Matthew Liberatore came in and allowed a three-run home run by Cook on the first pitch, which gave him the first RBI of his career.

“We just couldn't get it done,” Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton said. “Billy helped us through a tough situation. We just couldn't hang on.”

St. Louis took a 2-0 lead in the second inning when Donovan hit a two-run home run into the right-field seats after Arenado singled to lead off first.

The Cardinals scored two more runs in the third inning. Paul Goldschmidt hit a triple to right field with two outs, scoring Alec Burleson. The triple, his first since August 27, 2021, ended a 10-0 drought. Goldschmidt then came home on a bloop single by Arenado.

Pittsburgh scored two runs with four hits and a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning, reducing St. Louis' lead to 4-2.

St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol was ejected in the bottom of the fourth inning for arguing about balls and strikes. It was his sixth early exit this season and his 15th of his career. Hitting coach Turner Ward was also ejected.

TRANSACTIONS

Pirates: Promoted Woodford from Triple-A Indianapolis will start the game in St. Louis on Wednesday.

Cardinals: McGreevy recalled from Triple-A Memphis.

TRAINING ROOM

Pirates: RHP Kyle Nicolas (left oblique strain) was placed on the 15-day injured list retroactive to Tuesday. … SS Oneil Cruz (left ankle) remains day-to-day since leaving Sunday's game

Cardinals: RHP Lance Lynn (right knee inflammation) is placed on the 15-day injured list, ending his season. The Cardinals have a team option on Lynn for next season.

Next

Pirates: RHP Luis Ortiz (6-6, 3.45) will make his 14th start and 36th appearance of the season.

Cardinals: RHP Erick Fedde (8-9, 3.45) made two starts against Pittsburgh, both in 2022 while pitching for the Washington Nationals, winning both games.

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