Pirates 4, Cardinals 3
Andrew McCutchen hit a two-run homer and Neil Walker had a two-run double as the plucky Pittsburgh Pirates continued their surprising start by holding on for a 4-3 victory over the host St. Louis Cardinals on Monday.
The big hits came off St. Louis starter Kyle Lohse and erased a 1-0 deficit in the sixth as the Pirates improved to 3-1 after taking two of three from the Cubs over the weekend.
Charlie Morton, who went 2-12 with a 7.57 ERA last year, looked like a different pitcher as he limited the Cardinals to three hits and one run over six innings.
St. Louis (1-3) rallied for two runs in the eighth, including an RBI single from newcomer Lance Berkman, but David Freese and Yadier Molina struck out with a runner on second to end the inning.
Joel Hanrahan, the fourth Pirates reliever, pitched 1 1/3 innings for his third save.
St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols remains in a funk. He’s hitting .125 after an 0-for-3 night.