Cardinals rookie OF carted off field after violent collision

The celebration the St. Louis Cardinals have been chasing all year is closer than ever.

One sobering moment on Monday night, however, provided a harsh reality check.

The Cardinals drew closer to a third straight NL Central title on Monday night with a 3-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, a triumph dimmed by a frightening collision between outfielders Stephen Piscotty and Peter Bourjos in the seventh that ended with Piscotty in the hospital.

Piscotty and Bourjos were tracking a fly ball to the gap in left-center by Pittsburgh's Josh Harrison when Bourjos' left knee slammed into a diving Piscotty's head. Bourjos made the catch while his rookie teammate lay motionless on the grass at PNC Park.

Almost immediately, Bourjos began waving to signal that Piscotty needed medical attention. Cardinals players and manager Mike Matheny gathered in the outfield, some kneeling in obvious concern as workers tended to Piscotty and a hush fell over the crowd.

St. Louis third baseman Matt Carpenter watched with an anguished look on his face.

Piscotty was strapped to a backboard and carted off, his head bloodied, though he managed to raise his left hand before disappearing into a tunnel. The Cardinals said Piscotty has a bruise on his head and all tests conducted were negative. He was expected to remain in the hospital overnight for observation.

"It puts a lot of things in perspective," Bourjos said. "The game at that point for me didn't seem all that important. It was just making sure Stephen was all right and hopefully he is OK."

St. Louis recovered in time to reduce its magic number to clinch a third straight NL Central title to two after getting to Pittsburgh closer Mark Melancon (3-2). The Cardinals can wrap up the division crown with a win in Pittsburgh on Tuesday night.

The 24-year-old Piscotty has provided a major boost to the banged-up Cardinals since making his major league debut July 21. He is batting .310 with seven homers, 15 doubles and 39 RBIs in 61 games.

In addition to Piscotty, the Cardinals have lost star catcher Yadier Molina and 14-game winner Carlos Martinez to injuries recently after ace pitcher Adam Wainwright, slugger Matt Holliday, first baseman Matt Adams and outfielder Randal Grichuk missed long stretches of the season with various ailments.

Wainwright has been sidelined since April but hopes to pitch out of the bullpen in the postseason.