Pittsburgh has won two out of three. Surprisingly tonight’s victim was NL victory leader Adam Wainwright.
The Cardinals took an early lead off of Paul Maholm. With two outs in the first, Albert Pujols singled. Matt Holliday followed with a two run dinger. St. Louis collected two out doubles in each of the next two innings and also left the bases loaded in the fourth as Maholm danced into and out of trouble.
The Pirates managed only two hits off of Wainwright in their first five at bats. Andrew McCutchen doubled with one out in the sixth. Jose Tabata followed with a deep drive into right center that hit off the glove of John Jay. It was ruled a triple. It should’ve been caught. Would’ve been a nice catch. But should’ve been caught. McCutchen scored. Neil Walker followed with a single to knot it up.
Joel Hanrahan was called on to relieve Maholm with two out and a runner in in the seventh with Pujols due up. But Pujols popped up to end the inning.
The Pirates forged ahead against Wainwright in the home half of the seventh. Walker delivered a two out, two run single that scored Ronny Cedeno and Tabata.
Evan Meek pitched the ninth. He gave up four singles that brought in a run and left the bases loaded with just on out. Holliday fouled out and Felipe Lopez popped out to end the inning.
Hanrahan was the winner with 1-1/3 innings of relief. Maholm went 6-2/3 and gave up two runs on seven hits and a walk. He whiffed four. Wainwright went seven innings. He gave up all four Pirate runs. He struck out six and walked four. Meek picked up the save.
The Good
Beating Wainwright.
Maholm pitched well enough to win most nights on most clubs.
Tabata had two hits and scored twice. He also stole a base.
Walker had two hits and drove in three runs.
The Bad
I have nothing.
The Rest
Maholm came into the game with a 3-4 record and 3.48 career ERA against St. Louis. Wainwright is now 7-3 against Pittsburgh. He hadn’t lost to them since 2008.
This was Walker’s second career three RBI game.
Tabata is hitting .366 after the All-Star break.
Pedro Alvarez was hittless with one walk in four plate appearances. He is in a 2-23 slump. Garrett Jones was hitless and is in a 1-20 slump.
