09/23/26 08:48:00
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09/23 20:46 CDT Matthew Liberatore pitches Cardinals to 5-1 victory that halts
Pirates' 5-game winning streak
Matthew Liberatore pitches Cardinals to 5-1 victory that halts Pirates' 5-game
winning streak
By JOHN PERROTTO
Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) --- Matthew Liberatore ended an 11-start winless stretch and
Alec Burleson got his major league-best 112th RBI as the St. Louis Cardinals
defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1 on Wednesday night.
Liberatore (6-14) gave up one run and six hits in 5 2/3 innings with six
strikeouts and no walks. His previous win came on July 11 against Atlanta in
the left-hander's last start before the All-Star break. Liberatore had lost
eight straight decisions.
Burleson singled in the first run in a three-run third that put the Cardinals
ahead 3-1. Ivn Herrera scored on a wild pitch and Leo Bernal hit an RBI single.
Masyn Winn doubled home a run and scored on JJ Wetherholt's single in the
fourth to stretch the lead to 5-1. Wetherholt had three hits and Jos Fermn
added two.
The Pirates' five-game winning streak ended. It matched their longest of the
season.
Brandon Lowe accounted for the Pirates' lone run when he led off the second
inning with his team-leading 34th homer, his first of two hits. Ryan O'Hearn
had two doubles.
Brandon Eisert (3-3) retired just two of the five betters he faced and was
charged with three runs in relief of opener Lake Bachar.
St. Louis (77-81) must win its final four games to avoid its first consecutive
losing seasons since 1958 and '59. Pittsburgh (80-78) needs to at least split
its last four games to finish with a winning record for the first time since
2018.
Up next
The rubber match of the three game-series is Thursday, with St. Louis RHP Kyle
Leahy (10-5, 3.65 ERA) facing 2025 NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes (10-11,
3.91).
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