Kyle Lohse scattered six hits pitching into the eighth inning to lead the Cardinals past the Pirates 5-1 on Sunday. Lohse (3-0), who struck out five without issuing a walk even though his ERA actually ticked up from 0.89 to 0.99.
Lohse improved to 8-2 in his career against Pittsburgh, having his way with baseball’s worst offense. His only mistake came in the eighth, when Michael McKenry led off with a double and scored on Casey McGehee’s pinch-hit single to trim St. Louis’ lead to 3-1. Mitchell Boggs came on in relief and quickly shut the door. Nate McLouth flied to left and Boggs held onto Jose Tabata’s sharp grounder back to the mound to start an inning-ending double play.
In 2009 and 2010, Lohse went a combined 10-18, but since the start of the 2011 season, Lohse is 17-8.