Pirates sweep Cards at home for first time in 15 years
June 30, 2004
SportsLine.com wire reports
PITTSBURGH -- Bobby Hill drove in the winning run with a pinch-hit single in the ninth and Tike Redman had three RBI to lead the Pirates to a 6-5 victory Wednesday over St. Louis, completing their first three-game sweep of the Cardinals at home in 15 years.
Julian Tavarez replaced St. Louis starter Matt Morris to start the ninth and quickly got the first two hitters, but Jack Wilson and Rob Mackowiak singled -- each had three hits -- and Hill lined a single to score Wilson.
Jose Mesa (2-0) blew his first save opportunity in 18 chances but got his second victory of the series, while Tavarez (2-2) took his second loss in three days.
The division-leading Cardinals came into the series with a five-game winning streak, 11 victories in 13 games and a 22-6 record in PNC Park, only to be held to six runs in 27 innings by a Pirates pitching staff that has the NL's fourth-worst ERA. St. Louis hadn't been swept in a three-game series in Pittsburgh since Sept. 25-27, 1989, though the Pirates did sweep a four-game series in 1992.
The sweep extended Pittsburgh's season-best winning streak to five games and came only a month after the Cardinals swept a four-game series in St. Louis.
Redman had a two-run single in a three-run Pittsburgh first against Morris, then broke a 3-3 tie in the eighth with a two-out single. Morris, who gave up 10 hits and five runs in eight innings, began the inning by walking Craig Wilson.
Mesa had a chance to finish it off, but the Cardinals tied it in the ninth on a double-play grounder after loading the bases with none out on Marlon Anderson's single, Albert Pujols' second double of the game and an intentional walk.
Pirates starter Kip Wells repeatedly pitched out of trouble while taking a 4-3 lead into the seventh, but Pujols doubled to tie it. Left-hander John Grabow replaced Wells with runners on second and third and none out but struck out So Taguchi and John Mabry and getting Reggie Sanders on a hard liner to third to end the inning.
The Pirates opened a 3-0 lead in the first on Redman's two-run single and Mackowiak's single. Redman drove in two runs in the Pirates' 3-0 victory Tuesday night and has five RBI in two games.
Wells again struggled with a lead, all he has all season, with Sanders leading off the second with his 13th homer. Wells then walked opposing pitcher Morris, who came around to score on Anderson's force-play grounder.
Wilson's RBI double in the second gave Pittsburgh a 4-2 lead, but Wells again gave a run back when Ray Lankford doubled to start the third and scored on a double play.
Wells allowed eight hits and four runs in six-plus innings and is winless in seven starts since mid-May.
Notes
Morris has given up 16 first-inning runs in 17 starts. ... Cardinals CF Jim Edmonds (sore left groin) didn't start for a fourth consecutive game. ... NL RBI leader Scott Rolen didn't have an RBI in the series. ... Wells is 0-2 in his past six starts at home. ... The Cardinals stranded 13 runners in the first two innings during the series. ... The Pirates' winning streak is their longest since they won six in a row April 15-21, 2002.
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
June 30, 2004
SportsLine.com wire reports
PITTSBURGH -- Bobby Hill drove in the winning run with a pinch-hit single in the ninth and Tike Redman had three RBI to lead the Pirates to a 6-5 victory Wednesday over St. Louis, completing their first three-game sweep of the Cardinals at home in 15 years.
Julian Tavarez replaced St. Louis starter Matt Morris to start the ninth and quickly got the first two hitters, but Jack Wilson and Rob Mackowiak singled -- each had three hits -- and Hill lined a single to score Wilson.
Jose Mesa (2-0) blew his first save opportunity in 18 chances but got his second victory of the series, while Tavarez (2-2) took his second loss in three days.
The division-leading Cardinals came into the series with a five-game winning streak, 11 victories in 13 games and a 22-6 record in PNC Park, only to be held to six runs in 27 innings by a Pirates pitching staff that has the NL's fourth-worst ERA. St. Louis hadn't been swept in a three-game series in Pittsburgh since Sept. 25-27, 1989, though the Pirates did sweep a four-game series in 1992.
The sweep extended Pittsburgh's season-best winning streak to five games and came only a month after the Cardinals swept a four-game series in St. Louis.
Redman had a two-run single in a three-run Pittsburgh first against Morris, then broke a 3-3 tie in the eighth with a two-out single. Morris, who gave up 10 hits and five runs in eight innings, began the inning by walking Craig Wilson.
Mesa had a chance to finish it off, but the Cardinals tied it in the ninth on a double-play grounder after loading the bases with none out on Marlon Anderson's single, Albert Pujols' second double of the game and an intentional walk.
Pirates starter Kip Wells repeatedly pitched out of trouble while taking a 4-3 lead into the seventh, but Pujols doubled to tie it. Left-hander John Grabow replaced Wells with runners on second and third and none out but struck out So Taguchi and John Mabry and getting Reggie Sanders on a hard liner to third to end the inning.
The Pirates opened a 3-0 lead in the first on Redman's two-run single and Mackowiak's single. Redman drove in two runs in the Pirates' 3-0 victory Tuesday night and has five RBI in two games.
Wells again struggled with a lead, all he has all season, with Sanders leading off the second with his 13th homer. Wells then walked opposing pitcher Morris, who came around to score on Anderson's force-play grounder.
Wilson's RBI double in the second gave Pittsburgh a 4-2 lead, but Wells again gave a run back when Ray Lankford doubled to start the third and scored on a double play.
Wells allowed eight hits and four runs in six-plus innings and is winless in seven starts since mid-May.
Notes
Morris has given up 16 first-inning runs in 17 starts. ... Cardinals CF Jim Edmonds (sore left groin) didn't start for a fourth consecutive game. ... NL RBI leader Scott Rolen didn't have an RBI in the series. ... Wells is 0-2 in his past six starts at home. ... The Cardinals stranded 13 runners in the first two innings during the series. ... The Pirates' winning streak is their longest since they won six in a row April 15-21, 2002.
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
