Cards’ Mikolas blanks Pirates

Associated Press

ST. LOUIS

Miles Mikolas pitched an eight-hitter and Tyler O’Neill hit a pair of two-run homers, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to a 7-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night.

It was the first complete game this season and second overall for Mikolas (6-9), who lasted just four innings in his last start before the All-Star game. He struck out three and walked none while throwing 100 pitches.

It was first complete game by a Cardinals pitcher this season. Mikolas had the only one last year on May 21 against Kansas City.

Mikolas pitched out of three jams. In the fifth with two outs, he gave up singles by Corey Dickerson and Kevin Newman.

A balk put runners on second and third. Mikolas got Jacob Stallings to ground out, ending the inning. In the sixth, he allowed one-out singles to Adam Frazier and Brian Reynolds, his third hit.

Starling Marte grounded into an inning-ending double play. He also hit into a double play in the first inning. In the seventh, Colin Moran doubled with one out and was stranded at third.

St. Louis has won three games in a row.

O’Neill had his first career multi-homer game, and drove in four runs for the second time in the last three games. He also singled to finish with three hits.

The Pirates have lost four consecutive games.

Pittsburgh starter Joe Musgrove (6-8) gave up five runs and five hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out seven and walked three along with hitting a batter.

Dickerson had rough night in left field and figured prominently in the first two St. Louis runs.

The Cardinals scored an unearned run in the first inning. Paul Goldschmidt walked with two outs and O’Neill hit a line drive that Dickerson dropped, allowing Goldschmidt to score. Musgrove ended up striking out the side but he needed 36 pitches without allowing a hit to get out of the inning.

St. Louis went ahead 3-0 in the third. Matt Carpenter was called out at first on a close play to start the inning. After a 37-second challenge, the call was overturned. With one out, Goldschmidt hit a fly ball to deep left in front of the fence. The ball hit Dickerson’s glove and popped out. It was ruled a double. An infield hit by O’Neill moved Goldschmidt to third and he came home on a sacrifice fly by Dexter Fowler.

The Cardinals chased Musgrove in the fifth. DeJong singled after Carpenter was picked off first by Stallings. After Goldschmidt struck out, Musgrove gave up a two-run homer to center field on his first pitch to O’Neill, giving St. Louis a 5-0 lead.

O’Neill got his second home run to center off reliever Kyle Crick in the seventh after Goldschmidt walked with two outs.

INJURY

Carpenter fouled a ball of the top his right foot in the seventh and had to leave the game. With a 3-2 count, Tommy Edman came in to finish the at-bat. He struck out and it was charged to Carpenter.