A game they once led by five runs capsized on the Cardinals in the ninth when Holland failed to retire any of the four batters he faced. The Cardinals’ closer-in-waiting had his outing complicated by two errors and three hits — which in concert led to a 5-5 score and extra innings. The Pirates would complete their unlikely rally in the 11th when Starling Marte singled up the middle to score St. Louis native David Freese for a 6-5 victory at PNC Park.
The radioactive ninth melted a game built on a strong seven innings from Miles Mikolas.