Game #32

CARDINALS 11, PIRATES 4

The Cardinals had a refreshing spurt of offense today against the Pirates, scoring 11 runs in route to a series victory and ending a Pennsylvania road trip of mixed results.

Tony La Russa wrote up a very strange lineup for today's game to take on lefty Paul Maholm. Joe Mather was hitting in the leadoff spot, starting in center field. Nick Stavinoha, batting sixth, played in right field, and Ryan Ludwick was moved to left. David Freese batted clean-up and Yadier Molina batting fifth. Brendan Ryan, usually the ninth hitter, batted seventh with Tyler Greene batting ninth. Matt Holliday got another day off to hopefully help his groin issues recover.

It was a strange lineup indeed, but it got the job done anyway. In the third inning, Mather picked up only his second RBI of the season, and Stavinoha drove in a pair with a bases loaded double. Ryan and Greene also had an RBI each of their own. Molina drove in three. So even with a rather strange lineup, the Cardinals got contributions from all around. The only starter, not including Adam Wainwright, to not drive in a run today was Albert Pujols. That's the cherry on top of the sundae of a strange lineup that puts up 11.

The Cardinals finally get a day off tomorrow before stopping by St. Louis for a three game series against the Astros, and then it's back on the road.

Boxscore courtesy of mlb.com.