ST. LOUIS -- With a chance to notch their first three-game series sweep in St. Louis in 26 seasons, the Pirates instead endured a seventh-inning meltdown that aided the Cardinals' comeback on Sunday. With key hits from Yadier Molina and Paul DeJong, the Cardinals scored four runs in the frame to surge to an 8-4 win that halted their home losing streak at five games.
The Pirates couldn't overcome their own generosity, as free bases and extra outs put them in precarious position with the game tied at 4-4. Reliever Juan Nicasio walked the first two batters, and Molina, who went 3-for-4 in his return from nagging knee soreness, pushed across the go-ahead run with a single.