Pirates vs. Cardinals final score: Pittsburgh evens NLDS with 7-1 win
By Bryan Rose
In a short five game series, Game 2 is often looked at as the the turning point. One team will either have a commanding 2-0 series lead or things will be tied at 1-1, heading to the opposing field.
After a disastrous Game 1, the Pittsburgh Pirates were looking at a near must-win scenario as the last thing they wanted to do was head home down 0-2, being forced to win three straight against the Central Division champion St. Louis Cardinals.
Thankfully for the Jolly Rogers, that won’t be the case as they battled back and took the second game in the series by a score of 7-1, evening up the series at 1-1.
The scoring kicked off in the top half of the second inning when Pirates starting pitcher Gerrit Cole knocked in Pedro Alvarez on an RBI single. A two-run home run in the top of the third inning by Alvarez extended the Pirates’ lead, before a three-run fifth inning took the rowdy St. Louis crowd out of the game.
St. Louis was stifled all afternoon long by Gerrit Cole who tossed six innings of two hit ball, the lone run given up coming off a solo home run from Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina.
Cardinals starter Lance Lynn on the other hand, who had been nearly flawless at home all season, struggled with his command, walking three and giving up seven hits in just 4.1 innings of work.
The Cardinals attempted a mini-rally in the ninth, but were unable to bring home Matt Adams after a one out double and now head to Pittsburgh looking to regain home field.
Both teams will have Saturday off for travel before opening up Game 3 in Pittsburgh at PNC Park.