ST. LOUIS_When the St. Louis Cardinals faced Jameson Taillon five days ago, they wore down the Pittsburgh Pirates' pitcher, plating three runs in the seventh inning en route to a win.
Taillon got a shot at redemption against the Cardinals Friday. This time, he did not let up as the game went on. The right-hander struck out six and pitched eight shutout innings, and the Pirates won 4-0. The Cardinals only had just four hits on the night, none of which went for extra bases until a ninth inning double from Jose Martinez.
Although he did not get a hit, Harrison Bader continued to find ways to contribute. He worked a walk in the first inning and made a running catch in center field to retire Gregory Polanco in the second inning. Bader covered 119-feet to make the play, according to Statcast.
The Pirates first two runs both started with an extra-base hit from second baseman Adam Frazier, who was a late addition to Clint Hurdle's lineup card after Josh Harrison was scratched with flu-like symptoms. Frazier doubled and scored in the third, and he hit a triple in the fifth. Catcher Francisco Cervelli followed Frazier's three-bagger with a triple of his own, picking up his team-leading 34th RBI.
Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas continued his strong 2018 season. He tossed six innings, allowed two runs (only one earned) and struck out two. He was forced to work out of trouble most innings but limited the damage, forcing the Pirates to leave six runners on base. The righty lowered his season ERA to 2.49 but took the loss _ his first of the season.
Mike Matheny has been looking for reliable bullpen options outside of Jordan Hicks and closer Bud Norris, and the search continued against the Pirates. Sam Tuivailala threw a perfect seventh inning but surrendered two runs in the eighth to give the Pirates a two-run cushion.
