Beltran's big night leads Cardinals past Pirates, 12 to 3

Carlos Beltran did it all at the plate, Lance Lynn did it all on the mound, and the Saint Louis Cardinals powered there way past the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night by a score of 12-to-3.

Beltran stated on Tuesday night following the series opening win that he wanted to show more discipline at the plate. Well, he did more than that less than twenty-four hours later. He went 4-for-5 from the plate, including two home runs, and seven runs' batted in--and the scary part, he did all of the damage through just the first three innings.

Lance Lynn also continued his perfection--except with him, it was on the mound. He improved his record to 5-0 on the season as he lasted six and two-third innings, giving up two runs on just three hits, dropping his earned-run average to an overall impressive 1.60.

The Cardinals offense has been hitting in bunches lately. Following Tuesday night's ten run and thirteen hit night--tonight, they racked up the score sheet with twelve runs on a season-high seventeen hits. Beltran took over the team lead in both home runs and RBIs as he now as seven bombs and has drove in eighteen.

Also getting in on the action tonight for the Cards' were Matt Holliday, leadoff man Rafael Furcal, and Daniel Descalso. Holliday drove in two runs, while both Furcal and Descalso drove in one each.

By the end of the third inning, the team was leading by a score of 12-to-1, as they scored four runs in the first, three in the second, and five in the third.

As for the Pirates, they continue to get owned by the Cardinals--and that is just an understatement.

Pittsburgh tallied up just seven hits while scoring only one run. Clint Barmes brought home Pedro Alvarez in the top half of the second inning on a double to center field. Both Alvarez and Jerry Harrison finished the game with two hits--and Harrison came in in a double switch as he pinch hit and moved into the game at second-base.

The Pirates starter AJ Burnett had his roughest, shortest outing yet. He lasted just two and two-third innings, allowing all twelve runs on twelve hits. He dropped his record to 1-2 overall on the season, and had his earned-run average jump up to 8.04 overall.

On the bright side for Pittsburgh, if there exactly was one for this game, was certainly there bullpen. Following the outing from Burnett, the Bucs used four guys in relief, as they pitched five and one-third innings of work, giving up not a single run on five hits. Lincoln, Resop, Cruz, and Grilli all came in.

The Cardinals once again have another opportunity to sweep an opponent tomorrow as the teams end the three game series at 12:45 pm Central Time. The game will be locally televised on FOX Sports Midwest and