ST. LUIS — Connor Joe and Oneil Cruz each drove in runs in the ninth inning to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday.
Colin Holderman (2-0) allowed two hits but did not allow a run in the eighth inning, while David Bednar got his 14th save in the ninth despite allowing a home run by Nolan Gorman on his first pitch of the inning.
Bednar has converted 13 consecutive save opportunities. His 75 saves are the seventh most in club history.
The two openers looked splendid. None allowed a run.
Miles Mikolas threw 84 pitches and allowed one hit in seven innings, with six strikeouts and one walk.
Paul Skenes covered six and a third innings, a task of 103 pitches, of which 74 were strikes. He allowed five hits, struck out eight and walked none.
For the Pirates, the Dominican Cruz went 0 for 3 with an RBI. Mexican Rowdy Téllez 2-0. Cuban Yasmani Grandal 2-0.
For the Cardinals, Dominican José Fermín 1-0. Venezuelan Pedro Pagés 3-0.
