Carlos Martinez, who had allowed two or fewer runs in seven of his last eight starts for the Cardinals, was on a similar roll Friday night at Busch Stadium. He blanked the Pittsburgh Pirates for the first four innings and was given a 1-0 lead in the third when Jedd Gyorko rocketed his second homer in two nights, hitting his 29th of the season over the Pirates’ bullpen in left center.
The homer was the first hit off Pirates rookie Tyler Glasnow and was Gyroko’s 22nd homer since the All-Star break in July.
Pittsburgh first baseman John Jaso, who hit for the cycle on Wednesday and shortstop Sean Rodriguez, a .