The Pittsburgh Pirates secured a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night, thanks to clutch performances from Connor Joe and Oneil Cruz in the ninth inning. The game was a showcase of strong pitching from both teams, with neither starter giving up a run.
Colin Holderman and David Bednar played crucial roles in securing the win for the Pirates. Holderman delivered a solid performance in the eighth inning, allowing only two hits without conceding a run. Bednar, on the other hand, earned his 14th save of the season despite giving up a leadoff home run to Nolan Gorman in the ninth.
Pirates manager Derek Shelton praised his team’s performance, highlighting the situational baseball played in the ninth inning. Bednar’s consistency in closing out games was also commended, with his 75 saves ranking seventh in team history.
On the Cardinals side, Miles Mikolas had a strong outing, throwing seven innings and giving up just one hit. Mikolas carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning before Bryan Reynolds broke it with a triple. Despite Mikolas’ efforts, the Cardinals couldn’t generate enough offense to secure the win.
Pittsburgh rookie Paul Skenes also delivered an impressive performance, pitching 6 1/3 innings and striking out eight batters with no walks. Skenes’ ability to navigate tough situations was a highlight of the game, as he consistently shut down Cardinals’ scoring opportunities.
In the ninth inning, Ryan Helsley struggled on the mound for the Cardinals, loading the bases and allowing the Pirates to capitalize with key hits from Joe and Cruz. Joe’s groundout drove in a run, while Cruz’s sacrifice fly extended the Pirates’ lead.
Overall, the game was a tightly contested battle between two competitive teams, with the Pirates ultimately emerging victorious. The contributions of key players like Joe, Cruz, and Skenes were instrumental in securing the win for Pittsburgh.
In other news, the Pirates made some roster moves, including claiming RHP Dennis Santana off waivers from the New York Yankees and recalling RHP Ryder Ryan from Triple-A Indianapolis. Additionally, updates on the injury front for both teams were provided, with players like RHP Quinn Priester and INF/OF Tommy Edman making progress in their recoveries.
Looking ahead, the Pirates are set to face the Los Angeles Dodgers, with LHP Bailey Falter taking the mound, while the Cardinals will rely on RHP Sonny Gray in their next game against the Colorado Rockies.