PITTSBURGH — After playing two games that were not decided until the final at-bat, there was no such drama on Wednesday in the Cardinals’ series finale against the Pirates in Pittsburgh.
The Pirates scored four runs in the second inning off Matthew Liberatore, getting the start in a bullpen game, and coasted to the win that gave them two victories in the three-game series.
The Cardinals, who scored a total of three runs in the three games, were shut out despite drawing a season-high nine walks to go along with six hits.
They finished their six-game trip to Atlanta and Pittsburgh with a 3-3 record.
Here is how Wednesday’s game broke down:
At the plate: The Cardinals were hitless in five at-bats with a runner in scoring position, hit into three double plays and left 11 runners on base … Pedro Pages’ singled in the fifth to extend his hitting streak to 11 games … That hit helped the Cardinals load the bases but the inning ended when Willson Contreras grounded into a force out.
On the mound: Liberatore hit the leadoff batter in the second with a pitch before allowing three hits and walking two in the inning, the big blow a two-run, two-out double by Connor Joe … He also gave up a home run to Rowdy Tellez leading off the fourth that ended his day … Chris Roycroft allowed just one hit and walked one in three scoreless innings of relief before Giovanny Gallegos retired all six hitters he faced in the seventh and eighth.
Key stat: In the three games in Pittsburgh, the Cardinals were a combined 17-of-93, a .183 average. They had 10 combined at-bats in the three games with a runner in scoring position, getting only one hit.
Worth noting: On the six-game road trip, Paul Goldschmidt was 4-of-20 with one home run, struck out 11 times and hit into two double plays … This was the third time the Cardinals have been shut out this season, their first shutout since April 21 … It was their first shutout loss in Pittsburgh since 2018.
Looking ahead: After Thursday’s day off, the Cardinals return home on Friday night to host the Nationals in the opener of a three-game series. Sonny Gray is the scheduled starter.
Follow Rob Rains on Twitter @RobRains