Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jameson Taillon delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016. “It was a game you’re hanging on every pitch, literally”.
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Carpenter’s homer was the 15th by a St. Louis pinch-hitter this season, a major league record.
Cardinals: LF Matt Holliday (broken left thumb) was cleared to resume baseball activities and is hopeful of returning before the end of the regular season.
Royals 10, Twins 3: Kendrys Morales had two home runs, including a three-run blast in Kansas City’s seven-run ninth inning. Mike Mayers (1-1) tossed a scoreless eighth for the win, and Seung-Hwan Oh worked around a solo homer to Jung Ho Kang in the ninth for his 16th save.
They hold a 4 1/2-game lead on the Bucs in the wild-card race but the New York Mets tied the Cardinals for the second wild card with a win. Pittsburgh has dropped eight straight.
“To serve up four late, it’s hard to swallow”, Watson said after blowing his third save since inheriting the closer’s role when Mark Melancon was sent to Washington at the trade deadline. “Things aren’t going well around here right now”. “We just have to keep going”.
“Guys are showing up and playing”, Hurdle said.
So does a comeback like the Cardinals executed after losing a substantial early lead.
“He’s a tough out against everybody”, manager Mike Matheny said. “Just, I love how this team competes, right down to the last out”. Reyes (1-1) carried the final four innings.
Wainwright’s double to the wall in center field put the Cardinals in front and Stephen Piscotty’s two-run double later in the inning gave Wainwright an early cushion, one he flirted with giving away. But it instead went 3-for-14, failing to add on to its first inning run after the first three hitters singled, hitting into a double play with the bases loaded in the fourth and leaving Yadier Molina stranded in the eighth after his leadoff double.
Chris Davis and Adam Jones also homered for the Orioles, who entered the day tied for the second wild card and two games behind AL East-leading Toronto. It was the first pinch-hit homer of a Suzuki career that includes more than 3,000 hits.
Jaso lined a single down the right-field line to drive in Jordy Mercer, who led off the third with an infield single, to pull Pittsburgh to within 5-1. Molina turned Vogelsong’s next pitch into his first grand slam since 2012, the 25th consecutive game the Cardinals have homered, tying the 2016 San Diego Padres for the longest streak ever in the National League.
Pittsburgh’s fifth featured four runs, four hits, a walk and two St. Louis errors. Gregory Polanco singled scoring Josh Harrison, and Kang followed with another RBI single to score Andrew McCutchen.
“I feel great, but I’ve never pitched in September and I’m aware of that”, Taillon said. “You get to him before they get in that rhythm and take advantage of it”. “To have a five-run lead and watch it go away and to be on the road here, there was a whole lot that happened here tonight”. He allowed one unearned run and struck out three. “It’s good to get back out there”.
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Pirates: Pittsburgh held C Francisco Cervelli out of the lineup a day after he experienced discomfort in his left hand trying to block a pitch. A week ago Pittsburgh was well within striking distance of the Cardinals for a playoff spot but have fallen 4 1/2 games behind St. Louis and dropped below.500 (67-68) for the first time since July 2. To make room on their 40-man roster, the Pirates designated LHP Kelvin Marte and RHP Curtis Partch for assignment.
