PITTSBURGH (AP) — Steven Brault pitched a two-hitter for his first career complete game, Gregory Polanco hit a three-run homer and the Pittsburgh Pirates snapped an eight-game skid with a 5-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday night.
St. Louis dropped to third place in the NL Central, 6 1/2 games behind the division-leading Chicago Cubs and one back of the Cincinnati Reds. The top two finishers in each division advance to the expanded playoffs this year, along with two wild-card teams.
Polanco’s homer with two outs in the fourth off Austin Gomber (0-1) just cleared the fence in right-center and put the Pirates ahead 3-1. Stallings capped the four-run inning with an RBI double.
Cardinals starter Dakota Hudson left after two innings because of right elbow tightness. Hudson, who allowed one hit and walked two, has a 2.77 ERA in eight starts.
X-rays were negative, but Hudson will undergo imaging tests Friday.
RHP Carlos Martínez (0-2, 10.32 ERA) will pitch the first game of Friday’s doubleheader and RHP Daniel Ponce De Leon (0-3, 6.23 ERA) will start the nightcap, coverage begins at 2:10 Friday on KIRX.