St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Matthew Liberatore shuts down Pittsburgh Pirates
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PITTSBURGH -- Matthew Liberatore ended an 11-start winless stretch and Alec Burleson got his major league-best 112th RBI as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1 on Wednesday night.
Liberatore (6-14) gave up one run and six hits in 5ª innings with six strikeouts and no walks. His previous win came on July 11 against Atlanta in the left-hander's last start before the All-Star break. Liberatore had lost eight straight decisions.
Burleson singled in the first run in a three-run third that put the Cardinals ahead 3-1. Ivan Herrera scored on a wild pitch and Leo Bernal hit an RBI single.
Masyn Winn doubled home a run and scored on JJ Wetherholt's single in the fourth to stretch the lead to 5-1. Wetherholt had three hits and Jose Fermin added two.
The Pirates' five-game winning streak ended. It matched their longest of the season.
Brandon Lowe accounted for the Pirates' lone run when he led off the second inning with his team-leading 34th homer, his first of two hits. Ryan O'Hearn had two doubles.
Brandon Eisert (3-3) retired just two of the five betters he faced and was charged with three runs in relief of opener Lake Bachar.
St. Louis (77-81) must win its final four games to avoid its first consecutive losing seasons since 1958 and '59. Pittsburgh (80-78) needs to at least split its last four games to finish with a winning record for the first time since 2018.
Up next
The rubber match of the three game-series is today, with St. Louis RHP Kyle Leahy (10-5, 3.65 ERA) facing 2025 NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes (10-11, 3.91).
Ohtani returns
LOS ANGELES -- Shohei Ohtani returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers' lineup Wednesday after missing two weeks with right biceps discomfort.
He batted second as the designated hitter against the Padres.
Manager Dave Roberts said it's good to have him back, though he's not expecting too much initially.
Mookie Betts continues to lead off, excelling with a .366 average and six home runs in September. Ohtani last played on Sept. 7 and is hitting .277 with 30 homers this season.