By MATT PIKE
Cardinals starting pitcher Erick Fedde struggled on the mound again, giving up seven runs for a second consecutive outing, as the Pittsburgh Pirates shutout St. Louis 7-0 to open the series at PNC Park on Monday night.
Spencer Horwitz opened the scoring for the Pirates in the first inning on the second pitch from Fedde, hitting a solo home run to right center field for his second home run of the season, putting Pittsburgh up 1-0 early on the Redbirds.
Fedde held the Pirates to that lead until the fifth inning, when Pittsburgh drove in the final six runs of the game, starting with another two RBI’s by Horwitz on a double that scored Joey Bart and Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Nick Gonzales doubled to drive in Horwitz, advancing Bryan Reynolds to third after he singled. Then, after Fedde intentionally walked Oneil Cruz to load the bases, a single by Ke’Bryan Hayes brought home Reynolds and Gonzales. Former Cardinal Tommy Pham drove in the final run with a single, scoring Cruz.
Fedde fell to 3-8 on the season, taking the loss, giving up all seven runs on 10 hits and pitching five innings, walking three and getting no strikeouts. The Cardinals managed just four hits on the day, and five baserunners overall getting just one walk, with Masyn Winn, Willson Contreras, and Victor Scott II all going 1-for-3. José Fermín had the only other hit in the game for the Redbirds.
St. Louis and Pittsburgh continue their series tomorrow. Andre Pallante (5-4, 4.43 ERA) takes the mound for the Cardinals against Paul Skenes (4-7, 2.12 ERA) for the Pirates. First pitch is at 5:40 pm, coverage will be joined near the start at 5:30 on KY 102 (102.5 FM).
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