Rival Watch: Cardinals top Pirates 7-2, tie for NL Central lead

By foxsports
Published

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Matt Holliday and David Freese drove in two runs apiece, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-2 on Sunday to move back into a tie for the NL Central lead.
Matt Carpenter, Allen Craig, Yadier Molina and Shane Robinson added two hits each for St. Louis, which jumped on Pittsburgh rookie Kris Johnson (0-2) early to snap a three-game skid.


Joe Kelly (7-3) allowed one run and four hits in six solid innings to win his fourth straight start. Kelly struck out five and walked two to remain unbeaten since June 5.
Justin Morneau went 1 for 3 in his debut with the Pirates a day after Pittsburgh acquired the first baseman from Minnesota to bolster the franchise's bid for its first playoff appearance in 21 years.