ST. LOUIS -- My goodness, no, the Pirates didn't get cut up by the Cardinals, 9-1, on this Saturday afternoon at Busch Stadium because of bad umpiring.
But it sure didn't help.
Time after time, key pitch upon key pitch, Adam Wainwright and/or Yadier Molina, St. Louis' battery who are both 38 years old and both headed to Cooperstown, visibly got the benefit of the doubt from home plate umpire Ed Hickox. With the most damning example by this second strike called against Kevin Newman with the bases loaded in the second inning .