Matt Holliday (photo/MLB)
Matt Holliday and Kolten Wong each hit three-run homers to power the St. Louis Cardinals to an 8-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a three-game set on Friday.
Wong had three hits, Jhonny Peralta provided a solo homer and Peter Bourjos scored twice for the Cardinals, who have won 10 of their last 11 games.
Starter Michael Wacha (5-0) earned the win after allowing three runs — two earned — on six hits over six innings of work.
Starling Marte went 3-for-4 and drove in a run, while Neil Walker finished with two hits, an RBI and a run scored for the Pirates, who had starter Francisco Liriano (1-2) give up six runs — five earned — on six hits with 10 strikeouts over 6 1/3 frames.
Andrew McCutchen got Pittsburgh within 4-3 during the sixth as he led off the frame with a double, advanced to third on Marte’s base hit and raced home on a fielder’s choice to second.
St. Louis scored four runs in the seventh to provide some much-needed breathing room.
Yadier Molina hit a sharp liner to left for a leadoff double and took third on a passed ball. Two batters later, Jon Jay restored St. Louis’ two-run lead with an RBI single to center, ending Liriano’s outing.
Arquimedes Caminero took the mound and gave up a double to Bourjos. Wong followed with a three-run blast to right center for an 8-3 score.
Walker hit an RBI single off Matt Belisle in the home half and Josh Harrison scored from third after Corey Hart hit into a double play in the eighth, making it an 8-5 game.
Trevor Rosenthal fired a scoreless ninth for his 11th save of the season.
Gregory Polanco led off the home first with a single, moved to third on consecutive groundouts and hustled home after Cardinals third baseman Pete Kozma misplayed Marte’s grounder.
Peralta quickly tied the game in the second by smoking a 2-0 fastball into the Pirates’ bullpen in center for a leadoff blast.
In the third, Wacha reached base on Harrison’s fielding error at third, Bourjos doubled and Holliday brought them around with a homer to center for a 4-1 lead.
The Pirates responded in the bottom half after Marte supplied a two-out RBI single.
