Pirates
Rich Hill Masterful as Pirates Sweep Cardinals
PITTSBURGH – Rich Hill seemingly turned back the hands of time again.
The 43-year-old left-hander pitched one-run ball over 6.2 innings as the Pittsburgh Pirates edged the St. Louis Cardinals 2-1 on Sunday at PNC Park to complete a three-game series sweep.
The Pirates (31-27) also ran their winning streak to five games.
Hill (5-5) allowed just four hits while striking out six and walking three. He took a shutout into the seventh inning before giving up a solo home run to Andrew Knizner with two outs.
Tommy Edman followed with a single and Hill was lifted in favor of Dauri Moreta, who struck out reigning National League MVP Paul Goldschmidt to end the inning and preserve a 2-1 lead.
Yohan Ramirez pitched a perfect eighth inning and David Bednar – pitching for a third straight day — worked a scoreless ninth for his 13th save in 14 opportunities.
Ji Hwan Bae accounted for the Pirates’ scoring with a two-run single with two outs in the first inning off Miles Mikolas (4-2). The Pirates had loaded the bases on singles by Bryan Reynolds, Jack Suwinski and Ke’Bryan Hayes.
Hayes continued his hot hitting by going 3 for 4. Reynolds, Bae and Austin Hedges had two hits each.
The Pirates have won seven straight games against National League Central opponents.
The Cardinals (25-35) have lost five of their last six games.
The Oakland Athletics, who have the worst record in the major leagues, visit PNC Park for a three-game series beginning at 7:05 p.m. Monday. Johan Oviedo (3-4, 4.50) is scheduled to pitch for the Pirates against left-hander JP Sears (0-3, 4.37).