The Gas House Gang

Joel Pineiro bounced back from rough outings in his first two starts of the year to help lead the Cardinals to a 6-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates and salvage a split in their short series.

Pineiro allowed just 1 run on 4 hits over 7 innings to pick up his first win of the year. That one run came in the bottom of the 4^th inning, but the Cardinals immediately responded as Pirates lefty Tom Gorzelanny walked the bases loaded and gave up back-to-back singles to Brian Barton and Albert Pujols to make it a 3-1 game. The Cards would score 2 more off the Pittsburgh bullpen in the 6^th, as Brendan Ryan (fresh off the disabled list) knocked home an RBI single and Skip Shumaker added and RBI double. Both teams would add a run in the 9^th inning to make it a 6-2 final.

Barton, who got the start in right field, was 2-4 with a walk and 2 RBI on the day. Albert Pujols was 2-2 with 2 walks and an RBI, Troy Glaus was 2-5, Yadier Molina went 3-5, and Ryan, filling in for the injured Cesar Izturis, came in at 2-3 with 2 runs scored, a walk, and an RBI. Jason Isringhausen came in after Russ Springer gave up a run in the 9^th to get the final 2 outs and secure his 8^th save of the year.

The Cards will return to St. Louis tonight at 7:15pm (Central time) to take on the Houston Astros. St. Louis will send Braden Looper (3-1, 5.49 ERA) to the hill against Astros righty Shawn Chacon (0-0, 2.77 ERA).