Connor Joe and Oneil Cruz drove in runs in the ninth inning, lifting the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night.
Colin Holderman (2-0) gave up two hits but no runs in the eighth and David Bednar earned his 14th save by pitching the ninth despite giving up a first-pitch leadoff home run to Nolan Gorman.
Bednar has converted 13 straight save opportunities and his 75 saves are the seventh-most in team history.
Both starters were splendid and neither gave up a run.
Miles Mikolas threw 84 pitches and gave up one hit over seven innings, striking out six and walking one.
Mikolas took a no-hitter into the seventh inning but lost it when Bryan Reynolds led off with a triple off the wall in dead center. Mikolas retired the first 16 batters he faced before walking Yasmani Grandal on a full count with one out in the sixth.
Pittsburgh rookie Paul Skenes pitched 6 1/3 innings and threw 103 pitches, 74 for strikes. He allowed five hits with eight strikeouts and no walks.
The Cardinals began the fifth with back-to-back singles by Nolan Arenado and Matt Carpenter. Skenes pitched out of the jam by striking out the next two batters before getting a groundout.
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The top overall draft pick last season, Skenes, 22, has not given up more than three runs in any of his first six career starts.
Ryan Helsley (2-3) loaded the bases to start the ninth. Jack Suwinski drew a walk and Andrew McCutchen singled before Helsley walked Reynolds on four pitches. Joe grounded to shortstop but Suwinski scored. Cruz's sacrifice fly drove in McCutchen.
TRANSACTIONS
Pirates: Claimed RHP Dennis Santana off waivers from the New York Yankees. LHP Jose Hernandez has been designated for assignment to make room for Santana on the 40-man roster. ... recalled RHP Ryder Ryan from Triple-A Indianapolis.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Pirates: RHP Quinn Priester (right lat muscle) is responding well to treatments. He is currently asymptomatic and is resting before he resumes throwing.
Cardinals: INF/OF Tommy Edman (wrist surgery) took batting practice for the first time with the team before the game. ... LHP Steven Matz was scheduled to make his second minor league rehab start Tuesday night with Double-A Springfield. He was expected to throw 40 pitches in the start. ... RHP Giovanny Gallegos (right shoulder impingement) will follow Matz, throwing one full inning and starting a second for Springfield.
UP NEXT
Pirates: LHP Bailey Falter (3-3, 3.69 ERA) allowed five runs in 4-plus innings and lost an 11-7 decision against the Dodgers last Thursday.
Cardinals: RHP Sonny Gray (7-4, 3.21 ERA) pitched his shortest outing of the season at 4 2/3 innings and issued a season-high four walks in a 3-2 home loss to Colorado.
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