Tuesday’s Game Report: Pirates 1, Cardinals 0
By Rob Rains
Even though Andre Pallante allowed only one hit over seven shutout innings, he couldn’t get a win over the Pirate because of something the Cardinals have only done four times in more than 100 years.
The Cardinals were shut out for the second consecutive game Tuesday night in Pittsburgh, the first time that has happened since Aug. 28-29, 2012. The only other times that happened were when they were shut out in the final three games of the 1976 season and three games in a row in 1958.
Pallante outdueled Pirates’ ace Paul Skenes, who allowed five hits before leaving the game after five scoreless innings. Skenes still has not defeated the Cardinals in six career starts.
The game was scoreless until the eighth inning, when the Pirates broke through against Phil Maton to score the game’s only run.
Here is how Tuesday night’s game broke down:
At the plate: The Cardinals had seven hits but were just 1-of-13 with runners in scoring position and left 10 runners on base … They had a chance in the ninth inning when Jose Fermin drew a leadoff walk and pinch-hitter Yohel Pozo doubled with one out but Fermin was thrown out at the plate on a grounder to first and Brendan Donovan struck out to end the game … The Cardinals challenged the out call against Fermin but the call was upheld after a video review … Willson Contreras had to come out of the game after he was hit by a pitch on his left hand. X-rays came back negative and the injury was diagnosed as a contusion. His status was said to be day-to-day.
On the mound: The only hit Pallante allowed was a single by Andrew McCutchen leading off the fourth inning but he was erased in a double play. Pallante walked two and struck out three in his best start of the season … Maton relieved to start the eighth inning and gave up a single, ground-rule double and a sacrifice fly for the game’s only run … The run was the first earned run allowed by Maton since May 4.
Key stat: This was the second time in the last week the Cardinals were shut out in consecutive games. It also happened last week at home against the Cubs.
Worth noting: Jordan Walker, on the injured list with appendicitis, was in Pittsburgh to meet with the Cardinals’ medical personnel after playing two rehab games with Memphis. He is expected to return to a rehab assignment in the next couple of days and will not be activated this week … Lars Nootbaar (ribs) was back in the lineup after missing the last two games but Nolan Arenado (sore hand) did not play and might miss Wednesday’s game as well … Skenes’ five scoreless innings lowered his career ERA against the Cardinals to 2.39 despite not recording a victory … Michael McGreevy allowed two hits over six shutout innings for Memphis on Tuesday night. He did not walk a batter and struck out five.
Up next: The Cardinals will try to avoid being swept by the Pirates in the final game of the series on Wednesday. Sonny Gray is the scheduled starter for the 11:35 a.m. game St. Louis time.
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