Oviedo Wild as Pirates Drop Game Three 6-4 Against Cardinals

The Pittsburgh Pirates fell to the St. Louis Cardinals after Johan Oviedo tied a career-high in walks and didn’t have his best stuff Sunday afternoon. 

The nail in the Pirates’ coffin was in the bottom of the fourth inning when Ryan Borucki gave up a single to Alec Burleson, giving the Cardinals a 5-3 lead. 

The Cardinals added another run before the game ended, and the Pirates dropped game three by a score of 6-4. In addition, Cardinals pitcher Zack Thompson tossed seven innings while giving up three runs on seven hits.

Oviedo’s final line was 3.2 inning pitched, four hits, five runs (three earned), six walks, and two strikeouts.

Recap

The Pirates got the scoring going early as Miguel Andujar blasted a 405 ft homer down the left field line in the second inning. The Pirates led 1-0.

In the bottom of the second, the Cardinals scored two runs when Nolan Gorman hit a single to right field, plating Tommy Edman and Lars Nootbaar.

Just like that, the Cardinals took a 2-1 lead.

In the bottom of the third inning, Jordan Walker blasted his 14th home run of the season down the left field line. Walker’s homer extended the Cardinals lead to 3-1.

The Pirates knotted the game up after Connor Joe drove in a run on a fielder’s choice, and Liover Peguero blasted an RBI double in the fourth inning.

The Cardinals scored after Vinny Capra’s error in the bottom of the seventh, making it a 6-3 Cardinals lead. In addition, the Pirates challenged the safe call at home, but the call was upheld.

The Pirates chipped away at the lead after Andujar drove in his second run of the game on a fielder’s choice. The Pirates still trailed 6-4.

Key Moment 

With Johan Oviedo struggling mightily heading into the bottom of the fourth, he walked Edman to lead off the inning. Nootbaar then grounded into a fielder’s choice, but everyone was safe after a throwing error from Peguero.

Goldschmidt struck out, and Gorman flew out to the right field, giving way to Nolan Arenado. Oviedo walked Arenado, and the bases were loaded with Alec Burleson coming to the plate.

Manager Derek Shelton pulled Oviedo for Ryan Borucki to face the lefty Burleson to get a better matchup.

Borucki left a 0-0 slider down the middle of the plate, and Burleson smacked a 102.5 mph grounder to center field. Edman and Nootbaar scored, giving the Cardinals a permanent lead.

The Cardinals led 5-3 at the time.

Star of the Game

Zack Thompson. Thompson went seven full innings while giving up seven hits, three runs, no walks, and struck out eight Pirates’ batters.

Noteworthy

• The Pittsburgh Pirates have yet to sweep the Cardinals in a 3+ game series in St. Louis since 1997.
• Oviedo tied a career high in walks allowed with six during Sunday’s game.
• The Pirates five-game winning streak was halted. The last time the Pirates won five in a row was May 31-June 4
• In four out of his last seven starts, Oviedo has given up at least one homer.

Up Next

The Pittsburgh Pirates (63-74) head back home to face the Milwaukee Brewers (76-60) for a three-game series before heading back out on the road. The Brewers are scheduled to have Corbin Burnes (9-7, 3.55 ERA) start game one. Burnes mound opponent has yet to be announced by the Pirates.