Andrew McCutcheon dives into home scoring a run for the Pirates. (photo/Bill Greenblatt, UPI)
Cardinals shortstop Aledmys Diaz went 3 for 5, hit his 12th homer of the season to tie the game in the third and his single in the fourth capped a four-run rally, but the Pirates rallied from a 5-1 deficit to win 7-5.
It was Pittsburgh’s seventh win in a row and they pass the Cardinals by a half-game in the Central Division, heading into Thursday afternoon’s finale.
Jaime Garcia allowed two solo homers before walking two to start the sixth before getting pulled. Â Both runs came in to score closing the Cardinals lead to 5-4.
In the seventh, the Pirates tacked on three more. Jung Ho Kang’s double off Jonathan Broxton gave Pittsburgh the lead. Â Pirates relievers combined for five scoreless innings. A.J. Schugel (2-2) got the win and Mark Melancon picked up his 26th save.
