ST. LOUIS (AP) — Bryan Reynolds hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the seventh inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates ended a nine-game skid, beating the St. Louis Cardinals 6-4 on Wednesday night.
Reynolds, who also tripled and scored, hit his 11th homer of the season after Tucupita Marcano singled with two outs off reliever Andre Pallante (2-1).
Wil Crowe (3-3) threw two scoreless innings in relief, and David Bednar picked up his 11th save by pitching the final 2 2/3 innings.
Jack Flaherty made his first appearance of the season for the Cardinals, who lost for the second time in their past nine home games. The 26-year-old right-hander started and threw 60 pitches, his limit, over three innings, allowing four runs, two earned, and three hits.
Flaherty had been sidelined with a shoulder injury. His last start was on Sept. 24 against the Cubs in Chicago. His last appearance came in relief on Oct. 3.
Pittsburgh scored twice against Flaherty in the first inning. Reynolds tripled and scored on a groundout, and Cal Mitchell's RBI single made it 2-0.
The Pirates added two unearned runs in the second. Flaherty threw wildly to first on a sacrifice bunt by Tyler Heineman that scored Canaan Smith-Njgba. Hoy Park bunted for a hit but catcher Yadier Molina’s errant throw to first allowed Heineman to score.
Dylan Carlson put St. Louis on the board with a second-inning homer.
The Cardinals tied it 4-4 in the fifth on Brendan Donovan's two-run double and Tyler O’Neill's fielder's-choice grounder. Donovan finished with three hits and was hit by a pitch.
Rookie Pirates starter Roansy Contreras allowed four runs, three earned, on six hits in 4 1/3 innings.
ROSTER MOVES
Cardinals: C Ali Sanchez was designated for assignment and LHP Packy Naughton was optioned to Triple-A Memphis while Flaherty was activated from the injured list. ... LHP Matthew Liberatore, the 27th player added for Tuesday's doubleheader, was sent back to Memphis.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: LHP Dillon Peters (low back strain) still has not resumed throwing.
Cardinals: Cardinals: OF Corey Dickerson (calf muscle) has begun sprinting and running the bases. ... LHP Steven Matz (shoulder) might throw for the first time on Thursday. ... RHP Jordan Hicks (forearm) has started throwing bullpen sessions to get ready for a rehab assignment.
UP NEXT
Pirates: Host San Francisco on Friday with RHP Zach Thompson (3-4, 4.50 ERA) on the mound.
Cardinals: At Boston on Friday, with veteran RHP Adam Wainwright (5-4, 2.84) making his second career regular season start against the Red Sox and first at Fenway Park. He started twice against Boston during the 2013 World Series.
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