Allen Craig makes a leaping attempt at the baseball off the bat of Pittsburgh Pirates Drew Sutton in the fourth inning. UPI/Bill Greenblatt
Allen Craig homered for the second time in three days and All-Star Yadier Molina also connected for the Cardinals. Molina has 13 homers, one shy of last year’s season total, and Craig has 11 in just 39 games as the Cardinals held off Pittsburgh with a 5-4 win Sunday afternoon.
Mitchell Boggs and Jason Motte both got big outs to protect the lead as the Pirates were trying to sweep a series of at least three games in St. Louis for the first time since 1997. Coming into the game, the bullpen was 7-14 with a 4.62 ERA and 13 blown saves in 29 chances.
Matt Holliday and rookie Shane Robinson had an RBI apiece in a two-run fifth that gave the Cardinals the 5-4 lead. Robinson had been 4 for 32 with runners in scoring position before his first career go-ahead hit.
