Pirates
Pirates Implode in 6th Against Cardinals; Losing Streak Continues
The St. Louis Cardinals scored four runs against Chase Shugart in the sixth inning as the Pittsburgh Pirates dropped their fifth game in a row in a 6-3 loss on Monday night at Busch Stadium.
How We Got There
After Oneil Cruz legged out an infield single to open that game, Bryan Reynolds followed with his fifth home run of the season to give the Pirates (12-24) the lead.
Clear the deck! Bryan Reynolds unloads a cannonball! 💥 pic.twitter.com/ZivReKJPOV
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) May 5, 2025
The Cardinals (17-19) came back with two solo home runs — Jose Barrero and Brendan Donovan — to tie the game at 2all in the third.
Adam Frazier put the Pirates back ahead in the top of the fourth inning with an RBI single to center field.
Then all hell broke loose.
Shugart (1-2) entered the game with one out in the bottom of the sixth and faced six batters. All six reached.
Willson Contreras belted a two-run home run to left field and Barrerro plated two more with a ground-rule double to left to flip a one-run deficit into a three-run lead.
Key Moment
Bryan Reynolds represented the tying run in the top of the ninth inning with two runners on and two outs. The Pirates’ right fielder just missed a game-tying home run on a ball that was plenty deep but went foul, and Ryan Helsley struck him out looking for the save.
Star of the Game
Jose Barrero finished 2 for 4 with a home run, a double and three RBI. His homer was his first since May 30, 2023 as a member of the Reds.
Notable Pirates Performances
- Carmen Mlodzinski 4.2 innings, four hits, two runs, no walks, two strikeouts, 53 pitches/88 strikes
- Chase Shugart: 0.0 innings, five hits, four runs, one walk, no strikeouts, 17 pitches/11 strikes
- Bryan Reynolds: 1 for 5, one home run, two RBI, one run
- Oneil Cruz: 2 for 4, one run, one HBP
- Adam Frazier: 2 for 4, one RBI
Stat to Know
- Oneil Cruz was caught stealing in the third inning. It snapped a string of 34-consecutive successful stolen base attempts and the first time he was caught since last season on Apr. 22.
Noteworthy
- Bryan Reynolds’ home run off Miles Mikolas was the first the Cardinals starter allowed since the Giants’ Mike Yastrzemski took him deep last season on Sept. 27.
- Cruz recorded his first-career outfield assist with a perfect throw home on a potential sac fly in the sixth inning.
WOW
Oneil Cruz delivers a 💯 MPH missile to the plate. pic.twitter.com/tltKbwU4Vx
— MLB (@MLB) May 6, 2025
Up Next
RHP Paul Skenes (3-3, 2.74 ERA) will start for the Pirates in the second game of the series on Tuesday night. LHP Matthew Liberatore (2-3, 3.44 ERA) will start for the Cardinals. First pitch: 7:45 p.m. ET.