Power surge late lifts Pittsburgh Pirates over St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis rookie Jordan Walker's hitting streak ended at 12 games when he went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts in the Cardinals' 5-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday night.
The 20-year-old tied the record for longest hitting streak at the start of a career by a player 20 or younger, set by Eddie Murphy, who hit in 12 straight games with the Philadelphia Athletics from Aug. 26, 1912, to Sept. 5, 1912. The longest streak at the start of a career, regardless of age, is 17 by Chuck Aleno of the 1941 Cincinnati Reds and David Dahl of the 2016 Colorado Rockies.
Carlos Santana doubled twice, and Connor Joe and Rodolfo Castro hit consecutive homers in the eighth against Génesis Cabrera. The Pirates have multiple homers in five games this season, going 5-0.
Vince Velasquez (1-2) allowed three hits in six innings, struck out three and walked two. He was coming off an 11-5 loss to the Chicago White Sox in which he gave up five runs in 2 2/3 innings.
Jordan Montgomery (2-1) gave up two runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Andrew McCutchen and Santana in consecutive doubles in the sixth, when Gold Glove first baseman Paul Goldschmidt threw out Santana trying to score from third on Joe's grounder. Santana is 4 for 7 with three doubles and one homer off Montgomery.
McCutchen made it 2-0 with a sacrifice fly in the seventh off Jordan Hicks, who inherited a pair of runners.
Ke'Bryan Hayes doubled in the ninth and scored on Chris Stratton's wild pitch.
HITTING A WALL
Pirates CF Ji Hwan Bae caught a deep fly hit by Tyler O'Neill in the fourth with runners on second and third. Bae caught the ball in full stride with an outstretched glove and then banged into the fence and fell on the track. He got up unhurt.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Cardinals: OF Lars Nootbaar (bruised left thumb) was 0 for 5 wth two strikeouts in his first game at an injury rehabiliation assignment with Double-A Springfield. He is to return Friday to St. Louis to hit against RHP Adam Wainwright (groin). Nootbar has been sidelined since a week before opening day. … OF Dylan Carlson (neck spasms) left Monday's game with stiffness in his neck. He has missed three games.
UP NEXT
Pirates: RHP Johan Oviedo (1-0) will make his third start of the season Friday. He was acquired from St. Louis om Aug. 2 and e is 0-1 against St. Louis. In his last start, he threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings while winning a 1-0 decision against the White Sox.
Cardinals: RHP Jake Woodford (0-2) will be making his first start against the Pirates. He earned his first big league win against Pittsburgh on Sept. 19, 2020, in a relief outing. Woodford allowed three runs over 4 2/3 innings while striking out a season-high five in dropping a 6-1 decision at Milwaukee last week.