Pittsburgh Pirates Even Series With Cardinals

After an embarrassing 9-1 loss that saw their starting pitcher, manager and hitting coach getting ejected the Pittsburgh Pirates got back to playing baseball Saturday afternoon.

The Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-3. AJ Burnett picked up his second win of the season. While Jason Grilli earned his tenth save of the year.

April 12, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Jason Grilli (39) and catcher Russell Martin (55) react after recording the final out against the Cincinnati Reds during the ninth inning at PNC Park. The Pittsburgh Pirates won 6-5. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Burnett went six innings, giving up two runs and striking out six batters. The six batters that he struck out increased Burnett’s league leading total to 48.

The Cardinals would grab the early lead in the first inning when Matt Holliday grounded into a double play allowing Matt Carpenter to score.

After that Burnett settled down and was in a pitcher’s duel with Jake Westbrook. Westbrook would go six innings without allowing any runs and striking out six.

It would stay a 1-0 lead until the bottom of the sixth inning when Pete Kozma would single to center fielder Andrew McCutchen allowing Jon Jay to score.

For six innings the Pirates could not muster any offense, but the seventh inning was a different story. After a Pedro Alvarez single, Russell Martin would tie the game on an opposite field home run, his third of the season.

The Bucs just weren’t happy to tie the game. Clint Barmes would keep the offense going and then Starling Marte would walk, followed by Jose Tabata being hit by the pitch. That would load the bases for McCutchen, who would work a walk giving the Pirates a 3-2 lead.

The Bucs would add one more in the inning on a ground out.

At the end of the day the Pirates improved to 14-10 and will look to take the series from the Cardinals tomorrow afternoon when they send Jeff Locke to the mound.