Pirates 7, Cardinals 5
PITTSBURGH -- Jordy Mercer's three-run double in the sixth inning rallied the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 7-5 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday night.
Seth Maness came on to relieve Carlos Martinez (3-1) with a 5-4 lead, one out and the bases loaded and Mercer hit a drive off the fence in front of the bullpen in center field. A single by left fielder Sean Rodriguez and walks to first baseman Pedro Alvarez and catcher Francisco Cervelli filled the bases.
The Pirates (14-16) won for the second time in three games, scoring 19 runs in that span, after plating just five runs while losing their previous five games. The Cardinals (22-8) lost for the just the second time in 12 games.
Rookie shortstop Jung Ho Kang had two hits for the Pirates.
Right-handed reliever Rob Scahill (1-2) pitched a perfect sixth inning for the win. Closer Mark Melancon pitched a perfect ninth for his sixth save.
Left fielder Matt Holliday had three of the Cardinals' 10 hits while right fielder Jason Heyward doubled twice and shortstop Jhonny Peralta had two hits.
Both starting pitchers struggled. The Pirates' Vance Worley gave up five runs and nine hits in five innings while Martinez was tagged for seven runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Catcher Yadier Molina, two innings after lining into a triple play, hit a two-run double to key a five-run fourth that put the Cardinals ahead, 5-3.
Peralta drove in a run with a single and Heyward doubled in a run before Molina's hit made it 4-3. Center fielder Jon Jay capped the inning with a sacrifice fly.
Second baseman Neil Walker hit a solo homer to right field in the bottom of the fifth to draw Pittsburgh within a run.
The Pirates scored three runs in the bottom of the second to break a scoreless tie. Alvarez scored on a wild pitch by Martinez and Mercer drove in a run with a groundout before Worley and right fielder Gregory Polanco hit back-to-back doubles for the third run.
In the top of the second, the Cardinals had Peralta on third base and Heyward on second with none out when Molina lined out to Walker.
Walker threw to third baseman Jung Ho Kang to double Peralta off third base. Kang then threw back to Walker to double Heyward off second base for the third out.
The Pirates also turned a triple play last season on Sept. 14 against the Chicago Cubs.
The Cardinals last hit into a triple play on May 10, 2003, with Atlanta Braves shortstop Rafael Furcal turning it unassisted after catching a liner by pitcher Woody Williams with runners on first and second.
Current St. Louis manager Mike Matheny was the runner at second base.
NOTES: Cardinals 1B/3B Mark Reynolds started at third base in place of 3B Matt Carpenter, who is missing the three-game series with what the team is calling "extreme fatigue." ... Pirates INF Jung Ho Kang started at third base as 3B Josh Harrison, whose batting average had slipped to .178, sat out for the second time in five games. ... St. Louis LHP Tyler Lyons (0-0, 6.23 ERA) will oppose Pittsburgh LHP Jeff Locke (2-2, 4.85) on Sunday in the series finale. Lyons will be making his second start since being recalled from Triple-A Memphis. He is 0-2 with a 4.20 ERA against the Pirates in two career starts. Locke has lost his last two starts and is 2-2 with a 3.76 ERA against the Cardinals in five career starts.