Cardinals 6, Pirates 4
Albert Pujols and David Freese each hit two-run homers in the first inning as the visiting St. Louis Cardinals held on for a 6-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.
Chris Carpenter (6-7) allowed four runs and 10 hits in eight innings before Fernando Salas set Pittsburgh down in the ninth for his 18th save. Paul Maholm (6-10) allowed five runs on 10 hits in six innings.
Each starter had an RBI single - Maholm made it 4-2 in the second while Carpenter answered in the third for a 5-2 lead.
Pittsburgh's Garrett Jones cut the St. Louis' lead to one with a two-run single in the sixth before the Cardinals' Yadier Molina provided breathing room with a solo homer off Chris Resop in the eighth.