By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates put on a pitching clinic in Wednesday's series finale, but it was the Pirates coming out on top in 13 innings over the Redbirds winning 2-1 and taking two out of three games in the series.
Cardinals starter Erick Fedde was rolling in the game through six innings, walking four batters and striking out two, but throwing a no hitter. With 88 pitches, St. Louis called on the bullpen in the seventh inning. Phil Maton, Kyle Leahy, and Ryan Fernandez carried the game into extra innings. Pittsburgh starter Mitch Keller was just as effective, pitching 7.1 innings and giving up four hits, striking out six and walking one.
Both the Cardinals and the Pirates had scoring chances in the 10th and 11th innings, but it wasn't until the 12th that St. Louis finally took the lead in the game, Jordan Walker singling to score Willson Contreras, who had started the extra frame at second base. In the bottom half of the inning, the former Cardinal Tommy Pham, who popped out to end the game yesterday, singled to tie up the game, driving in Ke'Bryan Hayes.
After St. Louis was unable to do anything in the top of the 13th, Masyn Winn and Luken Baker striking out before Contreras grounded out to end the inning, Chris Roycroft came on in relief for the Redbirds, immediately getting into trouble walking Alexander Canario and Bryan Reynolds to load the bases. Roycroft did record one out, forcing Andrew McCutchen to ground out, Winn throwing Isiah Kiner-Falefa out at home, but in the next at bat Joey Bart singled to score Canario for the walk off win.
The Cardinals put together seven hits in the game, all by seven different players. St. Louis was 3-15 with runners in scoring position in the loss.
It's an off day on Thursday for St. Louis. They are back in action on Friday against the Philadelphia Phillies back at Busch Stadium. Andre Pallante is scheduled to start against Aaron Nola for the Phillies. First pitch is at 7:15 on Friday, pregame coverage will begin at 7:05 on KY 102 (102.5 FM).
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