PITTSBURGH _ Jose Martinez and Jedd Gyorko rarely are in the same lineup for the Cardinals as Martinez has been viewed as an offensive threat but not a defensive whiz and Gyorko as a little of both. The Cardinals have been concentrating more on their defensive alignment lately, meaning Martinez has been getting only one at-bat a game off the bench.
But, with presumed right fielder Tyler O'Neill having to be scratched with a groin injury just before the start of the Cardinals' game with the Pittsburgh Pirates Saturday night, Martinez replaced him in the outfield. Hitting fifth and sixth in the lineup, Martinez and Gyorko were double trouble for the Pirates in an 8-4 Cardinals victory before a paid crowd of 32,471 on Andy Van Slyke bobblehead night.
Martinez doubled in two runs in the third and Gyorko one as the Cardinals rallied to go ahead. Gyorko doubled in Martinez, who also had doubled, in the fifth, as the Cardinals broke a 4-4 tie. For the night, the Cardinals had seven doubles and Matt Carpenter's 28th homer in the ninth, tying him with Colorado's Nolan Arenado for the National League lead.
In the sixth, Martinez and Gyorko did the same thing again. They weren't doubles but both walked and Kolten Wong delivered his third hit, a run-scoring single off the glove of diving second baseman Josh Harrison.
After an uneven start by left-hander Austin Gomber, fellow rookie Dakota Hudson gained his second win in a week by overpowering the Pirates in three perfect relief innings. It's hard to believe the Cardinals have five better starters than Hudson, who won 13 games at Memphis before being promoted.
Jack Flaherty will pitch for the Cardinals on Sunday as they try to win a third consecutive series for the first time this season.
For the second night in succession, the Cardinals had at least one runner on base in every inning but at least this time they didn't strand the bases loaded three times or leave 16 on for the night.
