Monday’s Game Report: Cardinals 6, Pirates 3
By Rob Rains
After not being able to buy a hit for the first few weeks of the season, Willson Contreras is trying to make up for lost time.
Contreras hit a two-run homer that flipped a 3-2 Pittsburgh lead into a 4-3 advantage for the Cardinals as part of a four-run sixth inning that led to a win over the Pirates Monday night at Busch Stadium.
It was one of three home runs for the Cardinals, with Jos Barrero and Alec Burleson hitting the other two.
Contreras, who also singled, was hitting .093 on April 8 but over the last 24 games has posted a .326 average with five homers and 16 RBIs.
The win was the third in a row for the Cardinals, the first time they have done that since sweeping the Twins in the season-opening series.
Here is how Monday night’s game broke down:
At the plate: The home run for Burleson was his second in as many games and also was the first for the Cardinals this season out of the designated hitter position … After a leadoff walk in the sixth, the Cardinals put together five consecutive hits, including the home run from Contreras and a bases-loaded double from Barrero that drove in two runs, to build the 6-3 lead … Nolan Gorman’s single in that inning snapped an 0-of-17 streak.
On the mound: Miles Mikolas was greeted by an infield single an a home run from the first two batters of the game and gave up another run in the fourth. He turned the game over to the bullpen after five innings, and Gordon Graceffo, Kyle Leahy and Phil Maton combined to retire the Pirates over the next three innings to get the ball to Ryan Helsley for the ninth. Graceffo was credited with the win, his second in the majors … Helsley pitched around two hits which got the tying run to the plate, but he struck out Bryan Reynolds on a 3-2 pitch to end the game.
Key stat: In the first 35 games of the season before Monday night, the Cardinals’ combined designated hitters posted a .203 average with only three RBIs and no home runs in 151 plate appearances.
Worth noting: As expected, the Cardinals optioned Michael McGreevy to Memphis on Monday following his 5 2/3 scoreless innings appearance on Sunday. Graceffo was recalled, and will pitch out of the bullpen … Roddery Munoz, who had been added to the major-league club to serve as the 27th man for Sunday’s doubleheader, also was returned to Memphis. Munoz did not pitch in either game on Sunday against the Mets … Masyn Winn, who had to come out of Sunday night’s game after spraining his left ankle, was not in the lineup Monday night but said he hopes he will be ready to play on Tuesday night.
Up next: Matthew Liberatore will get the start on Tuesday night in the middle game of the series. Paul Skenes is scheduled to start for the Pirates.
Follow Rob Rains on X @RobRains
