Comeback bid falls short

Final: Cardinals 6, Pirates 4

WP: Chris Carpenter (6-7)

LP: Paul Maholm (6-10)

SV: Fernando Salas (18)

The Pirates spotted Chris Carpenter and the Cardinals 4 runs. When that happens, it makes things tough. The Bucs made a push, but fell short to drop the first game of what is, to date, the biggest series ever at PNC Park.

The Cardinals scored their 4 runs in the 1st inning thanks to a 2-run homer by Albert Pujols and another 2-run homer by David Freese.

The Bucs would cut the lead to 4-2 in the 2nd inning when Ronny Cedeno would single in Garrett Jones in his first AB since coming off the DL. Cedeno would then score on a 2-out RBI single by Paul Maholm. However, the inning would be cut short as McKenry was tagged out after being caught in a rundown between 2nd and 3rd after Cedeno scored.

Carpenter, though, would return the favor to Maholm and deliver an RBI single in the 3rd inning to give the Cards a 5-2 lead.

The Pirates roared back in the 6th inning when Garrett Jones hit a 2-run single following an Andrew McCutchen single and a Lyle Overbay double. Jones, however, was thrown out trying to stretch his single to a double and became the 2nd Pirate to be thrown out on the base paths, which would prove costly.

The Cardinals would add an insurance run in the 8th inning with a solo homer by Yadier Molina against Chris Resop. Jason Grilli also pitched a scoreless 9th inning in his debut as a Pirate.

Kevin Correia takes the hill tomorrow against Jaime Garcia as the Pirates look to even up the series in front of what will be another sell-out crowd.