Cardinals 5, Pirates 4
Lance Berkman hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning to lift the St. Louis Cardinals past the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates 5-4 on Friday.
The Cardinals, who entered the night 9 1/2 games behind Milwaukee in the National League Central, fell behind 3-0 in the first but drew even in the second on a three-run homer by Yadier Molina.
Jose Tabata's RBI double in the fourth gave the Pirates a 4-3 lead.
Berkman put the Cardinals back in front when he drove the first pitch from Jose Veras (2-4) into the right-field seats. Kyle McClellan (10-6) pitched two perfect innings of relief.
Pittsburgh starter James McDonald allowed three runs, five hits and struck out five in six innings. Jake Westbrook gave up four runs, seven hits and five walks in six innings for St. Louis.
Andrew McCutchen and Ryan Doumit had RBI singles, and Josh Harrison hit a sacrifice fly in the first for the Pirates.