With the same steady pulse he’s kept piloting through a choppy season, Goldschmidt made the most of a fifth opportunity Monday against Pittsburgh and broke a 2-2 tie with his fifth career grand slam. The Cardinals needed every bit of it. The Pirates answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning, but after a home run and an error the Cardinals got an out at home plate to preserve a wild and taxing 6-5 victory.
The Cardinals had to carve the game up despite an overextended bullpen. Despite every effort to avoid using closer Carlos Martinez, the game found him in the 10th.