Jedd Gyorko’s eighth-inning homer off a 100 mile an hour Felipe Rivero fastball at Busch Stadium was his 30th of the season and third in three games. But, the opposite-field drive to right was his most significant homer of the season because it kept the Cardinals alive for another day as they try to gain a wild-card playoff berth in the National League.
After falling behind the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0 in the first inning, the Cardinals, with former closer Trevor Rosenthal tossing a season-high three innings, received flawless relief over the final eight frames. Matt Holliday’s pinch single was instrumental in a three-run sixth and Gyorko, acquired from San Diego as a utility player last off-season, gave them a 4-3 victory, moving them one-half game behind the San Francisco Giants, who were playing later Saturday.