The only good news that the defending world-champion Saint Louis Cardinals got on Wednesday night was the fact that they are done pitching to Pedro Alvarez.
The third baseman--who hit two home runs during last night's nine to zero win--proceeded right a long again tonight of continuing his season-long dominance of the defending 2011 world champions. In the bottom half of the third inning, he blasted his twenty-sixth bomb of the season and drove in three runs as the Pirates once again shut out St. Louis for the second straight game.
Wandy Rodriguez was impressive tonight as he pitched six scoreless innings, giving up just three hits and three strikeouts--but three walks on the night as well. The win was his ninth of the season and put the Pirates at just one game behind the Cardinals for the National League's final Wild Card spot.
The Cardinals managed to muster out just five hits on the night--and even worse, they haven't scored in the last twenty-one innings altogether--which isn't what you can afford to do at this time of the season if you're even thinking about doing something in October. St. Louis got two hits each from both of the likes of Tony Cruz and David Freese and just one from Carlos Beltran.
Joe Kelly made his first start back since the team made Lance Lynn move back to the bullpen and making Kelly a starter once again. He picked up the loss on the night and made his record fall to 4-6 overall. He lasted just five innings as he have up all five of the Pirates' runs on the night on eight hits and three walks. He struck out three and gave up one home run.
Trevor Rosenthal was certainly a bright spot for the defending champs tonight--as he pitched three scoreless innings out of the bullpen and struck out three batters while giving up just one hit. He was the only bullpen member that was used in the lost--but he improved his overall season ERA 2.35.
Pittsburgh blasted out nine total hits--but besides Alvarez's three run home run in the bottom of the third, Greg Jones doubled in the first to right field that scored Travis Snider. Josh Harrison singled to center and scored Alvarez in the bottom of the fifth--which made Pedro finish the night off with two runs scored.
Following tonight's game, everybody that the Cardinals are battling for the post season against all gained a game on the defending champs. The Reds, Braves, Dodgers and the Pirates of course, gained a game in the standings. The Dodgers are now a game and a half behind and the Pirates are now just one game behind--and hold the tie breaker in which would make Pittsburgh the host if their were to be a one game playoff between the two.
The Cardinals are now 3-3 on their current ten game road trip that will come to an end on Sunday following a four game series in the nations' capital against the National League East's leading Nationals.
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