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Matthew Liberatore snaps drought as Cardinals top Pirates 5-1

PITTSBURGH (AP) Matthew Liberatore ended an 11-start winless stretch and Alec Burleson got his major league-best 112th RBI as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1 on Wednesday night.

Liberatore (6-14) gave up one run and six hits in 5 2/3 innings with six strikeouts and no walks. His previous win came on July 11 against Atlanta in the left-hander’s last start before the All-Star break. Liberatore had lost eight straight decisions.

Burleson singled in the first run in a three-run third that put the Cardinals ahead 3-1. Iván Herrera scored on a wild pitch and Leo Bernal hit an RBI single.

Masyn Winn doubled home a run and scored on JJ Wetherholt’s single in the fourth to stretch the lead to 5-1. Wetherholt had three hits and José Fermín added two.

The Pirates’ five-game winning streak ended. It matched their longest of the season.

Brandon Lowe accounted for the Pirates’ lone run when he led off the second inning with his team-leading 34th homer, his first of two hits. Ryan O’Hearn had two doubles.

Brandon Eisert (3-3) retired just two of the five betters he faced and was charged with three runs in relief of opener Lake Bachar.

St. Louis (77-81) must win its final four games to avoid its first consecutive losing seasons since 1958 and '59. Pittsburgh (80-78) needs to at least split its last four games to finish with a winning record for the first time since 2018.

The rubber match of the three game-series is Thursday, with St. Louis RHP Kyle Leahy (10-5, 3.65 ERA) facing 2025 NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes (10-11, 3.91).

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See AP’s full MLB coverage here

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cardinals STL77-81	0	0	3	2	0	0	0	0	0	5	10	0
Pirates PIT80-78	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	6	0

PNC ParkPittsburgh, PA

W: M. Liberatore (6-14)L: B. Eisert (3-3)S: (0)
HR: PIT - B. Lowe (34)

STLCardinals

PITPirates

.M. LiberatoreMatthew Liberatore
P
5.2 IP, ER, 6 SO, 81 P
.B. LoweBrandon Lowe
2B
2-4, R, RBI, HR, SO

HITTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	FPTS
J. Wetherholt 2B	4	1	3	1	1	1	1	.244	.343	.368	.710	5.5
I. Herrera DH	3	1	0	0	1	0	3	.244	.357	.383	.740	3.0
A. Burleson 1B	5	1	1	1	0	3	3	.279	.344	.461	.804	1.5
J. Walker RF	4	0	1	0	0	1	4	.273	.330	.470	.800	2.5
L. Bernal C	4	0	1	1	0	1	2	.296	.337	.481	.819	1.5
N. Gorman 3B	3	0	1	0	1	1	2	.188	.274	.314	.588	1.5
J. Fermin LF	4	1	2	0	0	1	2	.254	.316	.364	.679	2.5
V. Scott II PR-LF	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.190	.269	.252	.521	2.0
N. Church CF	4	0	0	0	0	0	4	.251	.295	.371	.666	0.0
M. Winn SS	3	1	1	1	1	2	1	.235	.310	.321	.632	3.0

HITTERS	AB
J. Wetherholt 2B	4
I. Herrera DH	3
A. Burleson 1B	5
J. Walker RF	4
L. Bernal C	4
N. Gorman 3B	3
J. Fermin LF	4
V. Scott II PR-LF	0
N. Church CF	4
M. Winn SS	3

HITTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	HR	BB	SO	LOB	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	FPTS
K. Griffin SS	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.267	.320	.392	.712	0.0
R. Flores C	4	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	.271	.342	.529	.871	-0.5
B. Reynolds LF	3	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	.261	.364	.422	.786	0.5
B. Lowe 2B	4	1	2	1	1	0	1	1	.262	.331	.494	.825	6.5
N. Gonzales DH	4	0	1	0	0	0	1	2	.301	.364	.388	.752	0.5
R. Simon RF	4	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	.273	.310	.382	.692	-1.0
R. O'Hearn 1B	3	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	.267	.333	.448	.780	4.0
J. Triolo 3B	3	0	1	0	0	0	1	1	.241	.311	.306	.617	0.5
J. Mangum CF	3	0	0	0	0	0	2	3	.277	.334	.367	.701	-1.0

HITTERS	AB
K. Griffin SS	4
R. Flores C	4
B. Reynolds LF	3
B. Lowe 2B	4
N. Gonzales DH	4
R. Simon RF	4
R. O'Hearn 1B	3
J. Triolo 3B	3
J. Mangum CF	3

2B - M. Winn (21)
RBI - J. Wetherholt (51), A. Burleson (112), L. Bernal (18), M. Winn (56)
2-Out RBI - L. Bernal
Runners left in scoring position, 2-Out - J. Walker, N. Gorman, J. Fermin, M. Winn

2B - R. O'Hearn 2 (17)
HR - B. Lowe (34)
RBI - B. Lowe (94)
Runners left in scoring position, 2-Out - K. Griffin, R. Simon, J. Mangum

SB - J. Walker (21), V. Scott II (12)
CS - M. Winn (3)

DP - (Winn-Wetherholt-Burleson)

Outfield Assist - B. Reynolds
DP - 2 (Griffin-Lowe-O'Hearn; Reynolds-Lowe)

PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA	WHIP	FPTS
M. Liberatore (W, 6-14)	5.2	6	1	1	0	6	1	5.23	1.47	20.0
L. Gastelum	1.1	0	0	0	0	0	0	4.29	1.23	4.0
R. Stanek	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	4.09	1.33	3.5
G. Soriano	1.0	0	0	0	1	2	0	4.23	1.39	3.0

PITCHERS	IP
M. Liberatore (W, 6-14)	5.2
L. Gastelum	1.1
R. Stanek	1.0
G. Soriano	1.0

PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	ERA	WHIP	FPTS
L. Bachar	1.2	1	0	0	1	2	3.49	1.14	4.0
B. Eisert (L, 3-3)	0.2	2	3	3	1	1	5.65	1.30	-8.5
K. Curtis	3.2	5	2	2	1	3	4.71	1.29	4.5
A. Kelly	2.0	1	0	0	1	3	4.41	1.47	4.5
K. Yates	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	3.32	1.20	2.5

PITCHERS	IP
L. Bachar	1.2
B. Eisert (L, 3-3)	0.2
K. Curtis	3.2
A. Kelly	2.0
K. Yates	1.0

Pitches-Strikes - M. Liberatore 81-53, L. Gastelum 20-13, R. Stanek 11-7, G. Soriano 17-13
Ground Balls-Fly Balls - M. Liberatore 7-4, L. Gastelum 3-1, R. Stanek 1-1, G. Soriano 1-0
Batters Faced - M. Liberatore 22, L. Gastelum 4, R. Stanek 3, G. Soriano 4

Pitches-Strikes - L. Bachar 30-18, B. Eisert 18-8, K. Curtis 71-45, A. Kelly 33-20, K. Yates 14-9
Ground Balls-Fly Balls - L. Bachar 3-0, K. Curtis 2-5, A. Kelly 1-0, K. Yates 2-0
Batters Faced - L. Bachar 7, B. Eisert 5, K. Curtis 16, A. Kelly 8, K. Yates 3

.M. LiberatoreMatthew Liberatore
P
5.2 IP, ER, 6 SO, 81 P
.B. LoweBrandon Lowe
2B
2-4, R, RBI, HR, SO

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cardinals STL77-81	0	0	3	2	0	0	0	0	0	5	10	0
Pirates PIT80-78	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	6	0

PNC ParkPittsburgh, PA

HITTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	FPTS
J. Wetherholt 2B	4	1	3	1	1	1	1	.244	.343	.368	.710	5.5
I. Herrera DH	3	1	0	0	1	0	3	.244	.357	.383	.740	3.0
A. Burleson 1B	5	1	1	1	0	3	3	.279	.344	.461	.804	1.5
J. Walker RF	4	0	1	0	0	1	4	.273	.330	.470	.800	2.5
L. Bernal C	4	0	1	1	0	1	2	.296	.337	.481	.819	1.5
N. Gorman 3B	3	0	1	0	1	1	2	.188	.274	.314	.588	1.5
J. Fermin LF	4	1	2	0	0	1	2	.254	.316	.364	.679	2.5
V. Scott II PR-LF	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.190	.269	.252	.521	2.0
N. Church CF	4	0	0	0	0	0	4	.251	.295	.371	.666	0.0
M. Winn SS	3	1	1	1	1	2	1	.235	.310	.321	.632	3.0
Total	34	5	10	4	4	10	22	-	-	-	-	-

HITTERS	AB
J. Wetherholt 2B	4
I. Herrera DH	3
A. Burleson 1B	5
J. Walker RF	4
L. Bernal C	4
N. Gorman 3B	3
J. Fermin LF	4
V. Scott II PR-LF	0
N. Church CF	4
M. Winn SS	3
Total	34

HITTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	HR	BB	SO	LOB	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	FPTS
K. Griffin SS	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.267	.320	.392	.712	0.0
R. Flores C	4	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	.271	.342	.529	.871	-0.5
B. Reynolds LF	3	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	.261	.364	.422	.786	0.5
B. Lowe 2B	4	1	2	1	1	0	1	1	.262	.331	.494	.825	6.5
N. Gonzales DH	4	0	1	0	0	0	1	2	.301	.364	.388	.752	0.5
R. Simon RF	4	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	.273	.310	.382	.692	-1.0
R. O'Hearn 1B	3	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	.267	.333	.448	.780	4.0
J. Triolo 3B	3	0	1	0	0	0	1	1	.241	.311	.306	.617	0.5
J. Mangum CF	3	0	0	0	0	0	2	3	.277	.334	.367	.701	-1.0
Total	32	1	6	1	1	1	9	10	-	-	-	-	-

HITTERS	AB
K. Griffin SS	4
R. Flores C	4
B. Reynolds LF	3
B. Lowe 2B	4
N. Gonzales DH	4
R. Simon RF	4
R. O'Hearn 1B	3
J. Triolo 3B	3
J. Mangum CF	3
Total	32

2B - M. Winn (21)
RBI - J. Wetherholt (51), A. Burleson (112), L. Bernal (18), M. Winn (56)
2-Out RBI - L. Bernal
Runners left in scoring position, 2-Out - J. Walker, N. Gorman, J. Fermin, M. Winn

2B - R. O'Hearn 2 (17)
HR - B. Lowe (34)
RBI - B. Lowe (94)
Runners left in scoring position, 2-Out - K. Griffin, R. Simon, J. Mangum

SB - J. Walker (21), V. Scott II (12)
CS - M. Winn (3)

DP - (Winn-Wetherholt-Burleson)

Outfield Assist - B. Reynolds
DP - 2 (Griffin-Lowe-O'Hearn; Reynolds-Lowe)

PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA	WHIP	FPTS
M. Liberatore (W, 6-14)	5.2	6	1	1	0	6	1	5.23	1.47	20.0
L. Gastelum	1.1	0	0	0	0	0	0	4.29	1.23	4.0
R. Stanek	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	4.09	1.33	3.5
G. Soriano	1.0	0	0	0	1	2	0	4.23	1.39	3.0
Total	9.0	6	1	1	1	9	1	-	-	-

PITCHERS	IP
M. Liberatore (W, 6-14)	5.2
L. Gastelum	1.1
R. Stanek	1.0
G. Soriano	1.0
Total	9.0

PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	ERA	WHIP	FPTS
L. Bachar	1.2	1	0	0	1	2	3.49	1.14	4.0
B. Eisert (L, 3-3)	0.2	2	3	3	1	1	5.65	1.30	-8.5
K. Curtis	3.2	5	2	2	1	3	4.71	1.29	4.5
A. Kelly	2.0	1	0	0	1	3	4.41	1.47	4.5
K. Yates	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	3.32	1.20	2.5
Total	9.0	10	5	5	4	10	-	-	-

PITCHERS	IP
L. Bachar	1.2
B. Eisert (L, 3-3)	0.2
K. Curtis	3.2
A. Kelly	2.0
K. Yates	1.0
Total	9.0

Pitches-Strikes - M. Liberatore 81-53, L. Gastelum 20-13, R. Stanek 11-7, G. Soriano 17-13
Ground Balls-Fly Balls - M. Liberatore 7-4, L. Gastelum 3-1, R. Stanek 1-1, G. Soriano 1-0
Batters Faced - M. Liberatore 22, L. Gastelum 4, R. Stanek 3, G. Soriano 4

Pitches-Strikes - L. Bachar 30-18, B. Eisert 18-8, K. Curtis 71-45, A. Kelly 33-20, K. Yates 14-9
Ground Balls-Fly Balls - L. Bachar 3-0, K. Curtis 2-5, A. Kelly 1-0, K. Yates 2-0
Batters Faced - L. Bachar 7, B. Eisert 5, K. Curtis 16, A. Kelly 8, K. Yates 3

SCORING

ALL PLAYS

2ND INNING
B. Lowe homered to right center 0 1
3RD INNING
Burleson singled to center, J. Wetherholt scored, Herrera to third 1 1
I. Herrera scored, Burleson to second on wild pitch 2 1
Bernal singled to shallow center, A. Burleson scored 3 1
4TH INNING
Winn doubled to deep center, J. Fermin scored 4 1
Wetherholt reached on an infield single to second, M. Winn scored 5 1

2ND INNING
	B. Lowe homered to right center	0	1


Burleson singled to center, J. Wetherholt scored, Herrera to third	1	1
I. Herrera scored, Burleson to second on wild pitch	2	1
Bernal singled to shallow center, A. Burleson scored	3	1

4TH INNING
	Winn doubled to deep center, J. Fermin scored	4	1
	Wetherholt reached on an infield single to second, M. Winn scored	5	1

1ST INNING
Cardinals
L. Bachar Pitching:
J. Wetherholt: Strike looking, Ball, Strike looking, Ball, Ball, Ball, Wetherholt walked
I. Herrera: Foul, Foul, Herrera grounded out to second, Wetherholt to second
A. Burleson: Strike swinging, Foul, Ball, Dirt ball, Foul tip, Burleson struck out on foul tip
J. Walker: Dirt ball, Strike swinging, Ball, Walker grounded out to third
Middle of the 1st (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
Pirates
M. Liberatore Pitching:
K. Griffin: Ball, Griffin flied out to center
R. Flores: Ball, Strike looking, Ball, Ball, Flores popped out to shortstop
B. Reynolds: Strike looking, Ball, Ball, Reynolds lined out to center
End of the 1st (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
2ND INNING
Cardinals
L. Bachar Pitching:
L. Bernal: Ball, Strike swinging, Foul, Foul, Ball, Strike looking, Bernal struck out looking
N. Gorman: Strike looking, Ball, Ball, Gorman singled to right
J. Fermin: Strike looking, Fermin fouled out to third
Brandon Eisert relieved Lake Bachar
N. Church: Foul, Ball, Dirt ball, Church fouled out to shortstop
Middle of the 2nd (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
Pirates
M. Liberatore Pitching:
B. Lowe: Ball, Strike looking, B. Lowe homered to right center
N. Gonzales: Strike looking, Gonzales flied out to deep left
R. Simon: Foul, Strike swinging, Strike swinging, Simon struck out swinging
R. O'Hearn: Ball, Ball, Strike looking, O'Hearn doubled to deep center
J. Triolo: Triolo singled to left, O'Hearn to third
J. Mangum: Ball, Strike swinging, Strike swinging, Dirt ball, Foul, Ball, Strike looking, Mangum struck out looking
End of the 2nd (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors)
3RD INNING
Cardinals
B. Eisert Pitching:
M. Winn: Ball, Strike looking, Strike swinging, Ball, Strike swinging, Winn struck out swinging
J. Wetherholt: Wetherholt singled to center
I. Herrera: Dirt ball, Ball, Ball, Ball, Herrera walked, Wetherholt to second
A. Burleson: Ball, Ball, Strike looking, Burleson singled to center, J. Wetherholt scored, Herrera to third
Khristian Curtis relieved Brandon Eisert
J. Walker: Strike swinging, Foul, Walker popped out to third
L. Bernal: Ball, I. Herrera scored, Burleson to second on wild pitch, Dirt ball, Bernal singled to shallow center, A. Burleson scored
N. Gorman: Ball, Ball, Bernal to second on wild pitch, Strike looking, Strike swinging, Ball, Foul, Strike swinging, Gorman struck out swinging
Middle of the 3rd (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors)
Pirates
M. Liberatore Pitching:
K. Griffin: Ball, Ball, Griffin grounded out to shortstop
R. Flores: Strike looking, Ball, Flores grounded out to shortstop
B. Reynolds: Foul, Foul, Ball, Strike looking, Reynolds struck out looking
End of the 3rd (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
4TH INNING
Cardinals
K. Curtis Pitching:
J. Fermin: Ball, Ball, Strike looking, Strike looking, Fermin singled to shallow left center
N. Church: Strike looking, Ball, Ball, Ball, Pickoff attempt, Foul, Foul, Church flied out to center
M. Winn: Strike looking, Foul, Ball, Ball, Ball, Foul, Pickoff attempt, Foul, Winn doubled to deep center, J. Fermin scored
J. Wetherholt: Strike swinging, Wetherholt reached on an infield single to second, M. Winn scored
I. Herrera: Herrera flied out to deep left
A. Burleson: Foul, Ball, Ball, Burleson fouled out to catcher
Middle of the 4th (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors)
Pirates
M. Liberatore Pitching:
B. Lowe: Strike looking, Foul, Ball, Strike swinging, Lowe struck out swinging
N. Gonzales: Strike looking, Strike looking, Foul, Gonzales reached on an infield single to shortstop
R. Simon: Strike swinging, Simon grounded into double play shortstop to second to first, Gonzales out at second
End of the 4th (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
5TH INNING
Cardinals
K. Curtis Pitching:
J. Walker: Walker singled to center
L. Bernal: Foul, Strike swinging, Ball, Bernal fouled out to first
N. Gorman: Strike looking, Gorman lined out to right
J. Fermin: Strike swinging, Strike looking, Ball, Walker stole second, Dirt ball, Strike swinging, Fermin struck out swinging
Middle of the 5th (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
Pirates
M. Liberatore Pitching:
R. O'Hearn: Ball, Foul, Ball, Ball, O'Hearn doubled to deep right
J. Triolo: Ball, Ball, Strike looking, Strike looking, Dirt ball, Foul, Foul, Strike looking, Triolo struck out looking
J. Mangum: Strike swinging, Strike swinging, Mangum grounded out to shortstop, O'Hearn to third
K. Griffin: Griffin grounded out to second
End of the 5th (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
6TH INNING
Cardinals
K. Curtis Pitching:
N. Church: Foul, Strike swinging, Foul, Foul, Ball, Foul, Church flied out to center
M. Winn: Ball, Ball, Ball, Strike looking, Ball, Winn walked
J. Wetherholt: Foul, Foul, Ball, Foul, Ball, Ball, Strike swinging, Wetherholt struck out swinging, Winn caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop
Middle of the 6th (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
Pirates
M. Liberatore Pitching:
R. Flores: Ball, Strike swinging, Strike swinging, Ball, Foul, Strike swinging, Flores struck out swinging
B. Reynolds: Ball, Ball, Strike looking, Ball, Foul, Reynolds lined out to center
B. Lowe: Lowe singled to shallow center
Luis Gastelum relieved Matthew Liberatore
N. Gonzales: Ball, Foul, Gonzales grounded out to pitcher
End of the 6th (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
7TH INNING
Cardinals
Antwone Kelly relieved Khristian Curtis
I. Herrera: Ball, Foul, Ball, Herrera hit by pitch
A. Burleson: Ball, Ball, Strike swinging, Foul, Foul tip, Burleson struck out swinging
J. Walker: Strike swinging, Strike swinging, Foul, Strike swinging, Walker struck out swinging
L. Bernal: Strike looking, Ball, Ball, Strike looking, Foul, Bernal grounded out to first
Middle of the 7th (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
Pirates
L. Gastelum Pitching:
R. Simon: Ball, Strike looking, Strike looking, Foul, Foul, Simon flied out to shallow center
R. O'Hearn: Ball, Strike swinging, Ball, O'Hearn grounded out to second
J. Triolo: Strike looking, Ball, Strike swinging, Ball, Ball, Foul, Triolo grounded out to third
End of the 7th (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
8TH INNING
Cardinals
A. Kelly Pitching:
N. Gorman: Ball, Ball, Ball, Strike looking, Ball, Gorman walked
J. Fermin: Fermin singled to shallow center, Gorman to second
Victor Scott II ran for Jose Fermin
N. Church: Foul, Church lined into double play left to second, Gorman out at second
M. Winn: Strike looking, Ball, Strike swinging, Ball, Scott II stole second, Foul, Ball, Strike looking, Winn struck out looking
Middle of the 8th (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
Pirates
Victor Scott II in left field
Ryne Stanek relieved Luis Gastelum
J. Mangum: Strike looking, Foul, Ball, Ball, Ball, Foul, Strike swinging, Mangum struck out swinging
K. Griffin: Ball, Strike swinging, Griffin flied out to deep right
R. Flores: Flores grounded out to shortstop
End of the 8th (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
9TH INNING
Cardinals
Kirby Yates relieved Antwone Kelly
J. Wetherholt: Ball, Ball, Wetherholt singled to right
I. Herrera: Ball, Strike looking, Herrera grounded into double play shortstop to second to first, Wetherholt out at second
A. Burleson: Ball, Ball, Foul, Foul, Foul, Foul, Foul, Strike swinging, Burleson struck out swinging
Middle of the 9th (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
Pirates
George Soriano relieved Ryne Stanek
B. Reynolds: Ball, Ball, Foul, Strike looking, Ball, Ball, Reynolds walked
B. Lowe: Strike looking, Lowe grounded out to second, Reynolds to second
N. Gonzales: Strike looking, Foul, Strike swinging, Gonzales struck out swinging
R. Simon: Foul, Foul, Foul, Foul, Foul, Strike swinging, Simon struck out swinging
End of the 9th (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)

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