The Cardinals magic number is now down to four games, after Monday’s 4-3 win over the Pirates. Rookie John Rodriguez drove in the game-winning run with a ninth inning single to score Skip Schumacher. Shcumacher got on with a double and advanced ona sacrifice by Abraham Nunez. Salomon Torres was on the mound in the ninth and got the loss.
Earlier in the game, the Pirates took a 2-0 lead with RBI singles from Ty Wiggington and Rob Mackowiak in the second inning.
St. Louis cut the lead to 2-1 when So Taguchi scored on a passed ball in the fourth inning. In the seventh, Hector Luna drove in Reggie Sanders with a sacrifice fly and Albert Pujols gave the Cardinals the lead with an RBI single to right, scoring John Mabry.
Pittsburgh re-tied the game in the eighth, when Mackowiak grounded to the pitcher to score Wiggington.
Mark Mulder didn’t get the decision, despite seven inning of work. He allowed two runs off nine hits and a walk. Jason Isringhausen worked the top of the ninth inning and got the win, improving to 1-1. He retired the side with eight pitches.
The Cardinals were able to cut the magic number down thanks to the win and the Astros’ 8-2 loss to the Marlins. They were victims of Dontrelle Willis’ 21st win of the season.
