ST. LOUIS — Adam Wainwright pitched into the seventh inning, Paul Goldschmidt and Paul DeJong hit solo home runs and the St. Louis Cardinals ended a five-game losing streak, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1 Saturday.
The 39-year-old Wainwright (6-5) again stepped up as the Cardinals’ stopper. Since June 9, he has broken St. Louis skids of six, three, two and five games.
Wainwright allowed one run and six hits, and was pulled after giving up a leadoff single in the seventh. He struck out eight and walked one.
Now in his 16th major league season, he has gone into the seventh inning in eight of his last 12 starts. Wainwright improved to 18-7 in 43 career outings against the Pirates, including 38 starts.
Genesis Cabrera, Giovanny Gallegos and Alex Reyes each pitched a scoreless inning in relief. Reyes had a perfect ninth for his 18th save in 18 opportunities.
JT Brubaker (4-7) gave up three runs on six hits in six innings.
Yadier Molina had two hits and drove in the other St. Louis run.
The Cardinals entered the game having dropped seven of eight and 18 of their past 24 games. The win snapped a 10-game losing streak to NL Central teams.
DeJong, back in the starting lineup after not playing Friday, put St. Louis ahead 2-0 with a solo home run in the second inning. The Cardinals scored in the first inning on a two-out RBI single by Molina.
Pittsburgh cut the lead to 2-1 when Gregory Polanco led off the fourth with a home run.
Goldschmidt, who also singled and drew a walk, hit a 470-foot homer to center field in the fifth. In his previous at-bat, Goldschmidt’ flied out to the wall.
BATTERY MATES
Wainwright and Molina made their 288th career start as batterymates, fourth all-time since records were kept starting in 1908). Red Faber and Ray Schalk of the White Sox are third at 306.
TOUGH CATCH
With his back to home, 3B Nolan Arenado ran along the line into left field, twisted and caught Polanco’s fly as he fell to the ground.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: RHP Trevor Cahill (left calf strain) has been slow to progress, the club said. He has not resumed throwing yet.
Cardinals: INF Edmundo Sosa was not in the lineup. He left the game Friday night with cramps in the sixth inning. … CF Harrison Bader (right rib hairline fracture) started Friday in center, batted leadoff and went 1 for 3 in five innings at Single-A Palm Beach. Bader, 27, has missed 29 games since he was hurt May 24. Bader will stay through the weekend with Palm Beach. He will have a reevaluation Monday.
UP NEXT
Pirates: Hadn’t announced Sunday’s starter before the game.
Cardinals: RHP Johan Oviedo (0-2, 4.58 ERA)has one career start against Pittsburgh. He took a 2-0 loss last Aug. 27 in what was his second career start.
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