Wainwright keys Cards past Bucs

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

For a change, the St. Louis Cardinals didn’t need a lot of long balls to win. Just a couple of long innings against the Pirates, a team all too acquainted with them.

Yadier Molina drove in three runs and the Cardinals twice batted around during big innings, beating Pittsburgh 11-4 on Sunday for the Pirates’ 12th loss of six runs or more in 31 games.

Adam Wainwright (5-1) gave up two runs and five hits over six innings — the 25th time in 26 starts dating to last season he’s permitted three runs or fewer while lasting at least six innings. He is 16-5 in those starts.

“I wasn’t really that good,” said Wainwright, whose only substandard start during that stretch was a 14-7 win in Pittsburgh late last season. “For some reason I find it hard to bring my ’A’ game to this stadium. I don’t know why. But my team gave me a chance to win.”

The Cardinals didn’t need nearly as much offense as they got against Pittsburgh, one of the majors’ most perplexing clubs. The Pirates are 10-2 in games decided by two runs or fewer — normally, a sign of a contending club — but they have been blown out in more than one-third of their games.

The Pirates already have losses by margins of 20, 14, nine and eight runs (three times), plus three losses of seven runs and three by six runs, and the season isn’t one-fifth over. They have won only twice by six runs or more while going 14-17.