Streaking Pirates get late heroics to beat Cardinals 2-1

Nick Gonzales hit a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning after Mitch Keller allowed one run in the first seven, and the Pittsburgh Pirates won for the seventh time in eight games, 2-1 over the St. Louis Cardinals in a matchup of NL wild card contenders on Monday night.

Bryan Reynolds led off the eighth with a single to left before advancing to second on a wild pitch. With one out, Gonzales sneaked a slow dribbler off John King (3-2) through the right side of the infield.

Keller gave up six hits in seven innings, striking out three and walking two, before Aroldis Chapman (2-4) pitched a perfect eighth. David Bednar allowed a two-out single to Paul Goldschmidt in the ninth before striking out Nolan Gorman for his 18th save.

Andre Pallante went six innings for St. Louis, allowing one run on three hits with three strikeouts and two walks.

The Cardinals are second in the NL Central, one game ahead of the Pirates. They are in position for the second NL wild card, with Pittsburgh one-half game back of the third and final spot.




(AP Photo Matt Freed)