ST. LOUIS _ In September 2013, Cardinals starter Michael Wacha lost a no-hit bid with two outs in the ninth inning.
He came close again Sunday. This time he lost his no-hitter without getting an out in the ninth.
"I flirted with it a couple of times in my career," Wacha said. "I guess I'd just been through it before, and I was just focusing in on what I needed to do out there."
Wacha recorded eight scoreless, hitless innings against the Pirates before Colin Moran hit a single over Kolten Wong's head. His performance led the Cardinals to a 5-0 win. The right-hander struck out eight in front of a crowd of 44,432. His ERA is down to 2.41.
The Cardinals have not had a pitcher throw a no-hitter since Bud Smith in 2001.
Marcell Ozuna hit his second home run in as many days with a grand slam in the first inning. It left the bat at 111 mph and travelled 425 feet.
"I just saw it good and was swinging," Ozuna said. "Just see it and hit it."
With Wacha on the mound, it was all the offense the Cardinals needed. They still added an insurance run in the eighth with a Yairo Munoz single.
Jordan Hicks finished the ninth after Moran's hit.
"I'm a competitor, and I want that (no-hitter)," Wacha said. "But at the end of the day, we got a big W for us, and we got the win."
