Cardinals hold off Pirates 6-5 in Game 1 of doubleheader

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Kolten Wong hit the second leadoff home run of his career, Tyler O'Neill added a two-run shot and the St. Louis Cardinals held off the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-5 in Game 1 of a doubleheader on Friday.

Ryan Helsley recorded the final two outs for his first career save, and it didn't come easily.

With two outs and no one on, umpires were forced to review the pitch sequence to Kevin Newman after plate ump Jordan Baker apparently lost track of the count. Newman walked and Erik Gonzalez reached on shortstop Paul DeJong’s second throwing error.

Helsley walked pinch-hitter Josh Bell to load the bases but retired John Ryan Murphy on a flyball to end it.

After scratching out all of four hits in their previous 18 innings combined, the Cardinals managed eight in seven innings against Trevor Williams (1-8) and three relievers to overcome some sloppy defense.

St. Louis committed four errors, including a catcher's interference call against nine-time Gold Glover winner Yadier Molina that forced home Adam Frazier in the first.

Molina has been called for catcher's interference twice in four days — prior to that, the 17-year veteran had been flagged just twice in his career.

Playing their third doubleheader in five days, the Cardinals needed a jolt as they try to stay in the mix for a playoff berth. Wong provided an early one by turning on an 0-2 pitch from Williams and sending it just over the 21-foot high Clemente Wall in right field to extend his hitting streak to 10 games.

St. Louis built a 6-2 lead through 3 1/2 innings then held on. A pair of errors in the fourth chased starter Carlos Martinez and allowed Pittsburgh creep within a run. Yet the Pirates lost for the ninth time in 10 games when they failed to take advantage of a two-on, one-out opportunity in...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Cardinals-hold-off-Pirates-6-5-in-Game-1-of-15579231.php