PITTSBURGH (AP) — Paul DeJong hit a career-high three home runs, including one during a nine-run second inning, and the St. Louis Cardinals walloped the Pittsburgh Pirates 14-8 on Wednesday night.
DeJong, Andrew Knizner and Paul Goldschmidt each hit two-run homers in the second while the Cardinals batted around against starter Jordan Lyles (5-7). St. Louis also had five doubles for a total of eight extra-base hits in the inning, tying a major league record.
Goldschmidt started the second by reaching on an error and came around on DeJong's homer to left-center. After back-to-back doubles, Knizner hit his first career home run. A walk and a double scored another before Goldschmidt smashed an estimated 437-foot home run to the second deck in left to chase Lyles.
DeJong also doubled in the second, connected for a two-run homer in the fourth and hit a solo shot in the eighth. He finished 4 for 4 with five RBIs and four runs. The 25-year-old is the youngest Cardinals hitter with a three-homer game since 24-year-old Albert Pujols in 2004, MLB.com said.
St. Louis starter Adam Wainwright (7-7) used 105 pitches to get through five innings and gave up four runs, five hits and four walks while striking out five.
Pirates reliever Keone Kela made his return from the injured list and a two-game suspension for an unspecified violation of his contract by working one scoreless inning. Pirates position players Jose Osuna and Jacob Stallings pitched the final three innings, allowing one run on DeJong's solo homer off Osuna in the eighth. Osuna ran his fastball up to 93.1 mph.
Lyles was charged with eight runs, five earned, over 1 2/3 innings. It was the second time in three starts that Lyles was pulled early. He lasted just two-thirds of an inning on July 13.
Luis Escobar yielded the final run of the second inning and then four in the fourth on DeJong's second homer, a sacrifice fly by Wainwright and an RBI single from Tommy Edman.
The Cardinals have won 10 of 13 since the All-Star break and have won seven straight in Pittsburgh dating to last season.
MORE DEJONG
DeJong is the fourth shortstop in the live-ball era to have 14 or more total bases in a game, and the first to do it in four at-bats, STATS said. The others are Freddie Patek (1980), John Valentin (1995) and Corey Seager (2017).
TRAINER'S ROOM
Pirates: RHP Jameson Taillon (right elbow tendon strain) had his throwing program halted after pain recurred in his elbow. He has a consultation scheduled with his surgeon. ... LHP Steven Brault (left shoulder strain) threw a bullpen session and will pitch a simulated game this weekend. ... RHP Clay Holmes was placed on the 10-day injured list with right triceps inflammation. ... C Francisco Cervelli (concussion) was transferred to the 60-day injured list.
UP NEXT
Cardinals: RHP Miles Mikolas (6-10, 4.17 ERA) will start the series finale Thursday. He has dropped five straight decisions on the road.
Pirates: RHP Joe Musgrove (7-8, 4.08) is scheduled to start. He is 1-4 with a 7.09 ERA in five career starts against St. Louis.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
