Right-hander Lance Lynn allowed just one run on four hits in six innings as the St. Louis Cardinals edged the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1 on Tuesday night.
Lynn (7-4) walked two and struck out five while improving to 6-0 at home this season.
Jordan Walker hit a homer for the Cardinals (76-75), who have won the first two games of a four-game series.
Ryan Fernandez handled the seventh inning for St. Louis, Matthew Liberatore escaped a jam in a scoreless eighth and Ryan Helsley worked the ninth for his 45th save of the season.
Bryan De La Cruz hit a homer for the Pirates (71-80).
Pittsburgh starter Bailey Falter (8-8) allowed two runs on four hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out three.
Falter escaped trouble in the first inning. After Masyn Winn walked and Luken Baker reached on an error that came on a fielder’s choice, Paul Goldschmidt hit into a double play and Nolan Arenado popped out.
De La Cruz’s homer in the second inning put the Pirates up 1-0.
Brendan Donovan hit a leadoff double and stole third base with one out in the bottom of the frame. But Falter retired the next two batters to keep St. Louis off the board.
The Cardinals tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the third. Michael Siani hit a leadoff double, stole third and scored on Baker’s one-out triple.
After Goldschmidt reached on catcher interference, Arenado grounded into an inning-ending double play.
St. Louis moved ahead 2-1 in the fourth inning on Walker’s solo shot.
Lynn dodged trouble in the fifth inning. After Nick Yorke hit a one-out single and Michael A. Taylor walked, Nick Gonzales hit into a double play.
Gonzales hit a leadoff double in the eighth and went to third on Bryan Reynolds’ single. However, Liberatore retired the next three batters to hold the 2-1 lead.
The Cardinals made it 3-1 in the bottom of the inning. Winn hit a single and Alec Burleson walked, then Winn took third on a flyout and scored on Arenado’s sacrifice fly.
–Field Level Media
