Homers help Cards cruise past Pirates

Associated Press

ST. LOUIS

Jose Martinez and Tyler O’Neill homered, rookie Jack Flaherty pitched seven innings and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-2 Tuesday night in Mike Shildt’s first game since being promoted to full-time manager.

Flaherty (8-6) retired his first 12 batters and gave up one run and four hits. He has allowed only 14 hits and three runs in 32 innings, walking nine and striking out 38 batters in his last five starts.

Bud Norris pitched the ninth for his 28th save in 32 opportunities.

Martinez hit a two-run homer in the first off Ivan Nova (8-8). Martinez connected for his 16th homer after Matt Carpenter reached base on an infield single.

O’Neill hit a 436-foot homer into the left field bleachers in the fourth inning for a 4-0 lead. Martinez singled ahead of O’Neil’s drive.

Josh Bell scored both runs for the Pirates. He doubled in the fifth and Colin Moran hit an RBI single.

Bell drew a leadoff walk from reliever Jordan Hicks in the eighth, took third on a bloop single by Moran and scored on a double play.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Pirates: Josh Harrison didn’t start for the second consecutive game but walked as a pinch-hitter in the eighth and stayed in the game at second base.

UP NEXT

Pirates: RHP Trevor Williams (10-9, 3.44) has allowed just four runs in his last seven starts covering 42 innings.

Cardinals: RHP Miles Mikolas (13-9, 2.94) allowed a season-high 12 hits and five runs in 42/3 innings in last Friday’s start at Colorado.