The Pittsburgh Pirates continue to solidify their reputation as the most dangerous road team in the National League Central. Behind a dominant start from Braxton Ashcraft and a historic performance from rookie sensation Konnor Griffin, the Pirates defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 6-2 on Thursday afternoon at Busch Stadium. The victory secured a crucial rubber-match win and marked Pittsburgh's fourth consecutive road series victory against a divisional opponent.
Ashcraft Shines on the Mound
Right-hander Braxton Ashcraft (3-2) delivered one of the most composed performances of his young career. Ashcraft matched a career-high with nine strikeouts over seven masterful innings, stifling a Cardinals lineup that has been among the league's most productive over the last month. He surrendered just one run on four hits and two walks, effectively keeping the St. Louis hitters off-balance with a sharp mix of fastballs and secondary offerings.
Ashcraft’s only real blemish came in the third inning when Iván Herrera connected on a solo home run to center field, briefly tying the game at 1-1. However, Ashcraft responded by retiring 12 of the final 15 batters he faced, ensuring the Pirates' bullpen remained fresh for the upcoming road trip to Toronto.
Lowe and Ozuna Power the Offense
The Pirates' offense wasted no time getting to Cardinals starter Dustin May (3-5). In the top of the first inning, Brandon Lowe launched a 3-2 fastball that bounced off the top of the wall just inside the left-field foul pole. While there was initial confusion among the officiating crew regarding whether the ball stayed in play, the hit was ultimately ruled a solo home run—Lowe's 13th of the season. The blast gave Pittsburgh an immediate 1-0 lead and set the tone for the afternoon.
Former Cardinal Marcell Ozuna also played a pivotal role in the victory. With the Pirates leading 2-1 in the sixth inning, Ozuna stepped to the plate with two runners on and delivered a sharp single through the gap into left field. The hit drove in both Spencer Horwitz and Konnor Griffin, extending the lead to 4-1 and effectively chasing May from the game. Ozuna finished the day 2-for-4 with two RBIs, continuing his resurgence in the middle of the Pittsburgh order.
Konnor Griffin’s Historic Hitting Streak
Perhaps the biggest story of the series has been the emergence of rookie Konnor Griffin. The 20-year-old shortstop extended his hitting streak to eight games with a booming double in the sixth inning. Griffin has been on a tear since late April, improving to 13-for-33 (.394) during his current streak. On Thursday, he contributed across the box score, finishing the game with a hit, a run scored, and a stolen base.
Griffin’s impact wasn't limited to his bat. In the fourth inning, he utilized his elite speed to score from third on a fielder's choice by Jake Mangum, breaking the 1-1 tie. As the first player born after the current Busch Stadium opened to play in the venue, Griffin is quickly becoming a cornerstone of the Pirates' youth movement.
Late Inning Insurance and Defensive Execution
Pittsburgh added two insurance runs in the seventh inning to put the game out of reach. Catcher Henry Davis snapped a personal 0-for-16 slump by crushing a leadoff home run off reliever Justin Bruihl. Shortly after, Oneil Cruz doubled and eventually scored on a Bryan Reynolds groundout to make it 6-1.
The Cardinals attempted a late-inning rally in the eighth when Jordan Walker drove in Herrera with an RBI single, but the Pirates' bullpen, led by Wilber Dotel, slammed the door. St. Louis struggled to capitalize on their limited opportunities, finishing the game with just six hits and leaving seven runners on base.
Looking Ahead
With the win, the Pirates (25-24) move two games over .500 as they head to Toronto for a weekend interleague series. They are scheduled to start RHP Bubba Chandler (1-5, 5.14) on Friday against a Blue Jays starter yet to be named.
The Cardinals (28-20) will look to bounce back as they travel to Cincinnati to take on the Reds. St. Louis will send RHP Kyle Leahy (5-3, 3.94) to the mound to face Reds right-hander Chris Paddack (0-5, 7.07).
Sources & Original Reporting
