Joey Bart hit a home run and an RBI triple to help the host Pittsburgh Pirates defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 8-4 on Monday night and secure back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
The Pirates’ eight runs were a season high and were sparked by Bart and the trio of Andrew McCutchen, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Endy Rodriguez, each of whom went 2-for-4.
McCutchen’s two-run double off reliever Chris Roycroft sparked a four-run seventh inning, which allowed Pittsburgh to break the game open. Bart followed with his triple in the next at-bat to extend the Pirates’ lead and then came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Oneil Cruz. Kiner-Falefa began the inning with a single.
Brendan Donovan led the Cardinals’ offense by going 3-for-4 with an RBI, and Yohel Pozo and Masyn Winn added their first home runs of the season.
The Cardinals’ bullpen struggled once Matthew Liberatore (0-1) exited the game after 6 1/3 innings. Liberatore allowed five runs on eight hits but struck out seven and did not issue a walk.
Rookie Thomas Harrington, who started on April 1, changed roles and achieved a rare milestone as a reliever. Harrington tossed a four-inning save for the first of his short career and struck out five while allowing three runs on four hits and a walk on 60 pitches.
According to the Pirates’ broadcast, it was the third four-inning save by a rookie in Pirates history, joining Kent Tekulve and Blas Minor.
Harrington’s appearance backed up a solid start by Carmen Mlodzinski, who also changed roles heading into this season after pitching out of the bullpen last year.
Mlodzinski (1-1) allowed only one run on five hits over five innings, struck out six and walked two.
Bart got on Pittsburgh on the board by blasting his first home run of the season 411 feet to center field off Liberatore. The Pirates then did what they have struggled to do most of the season so far — tack on runs.
Rodriguez doubled two batters after Tommy Pham singled to lead off the second, setting up a two-run single by Kiner-Falefa. Two batters later, Ke’Bryan Hayes singled to score Kiner-Falefa and give Pittsburgh an early 4-0 lead.
–Field Level Media
