After allowing seven and 10 runs, respectively, to Milwaukee in their last two losses, the Pirates' run prevention dug a little deeper, falling to the Cardinals, 12-6, at home on Monday. It was the Bucs' seventh straight loss.
The Pirates fell to 4 1/2 games behind St. Louis for the National League's second wild-card spot, and dipped below .500, at 67-68.
The details, if you must:
- Starter Chad Kuhl was not sharp, leaving an elevated sinker that opposing pitcher Adam Wainwright couldn't help but knock off the center-field wall for an RBI double. Stephen Piscotty later knocked another long double to score two in a three-run second inning after Kuhl had escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first inning unscathed.