Pirates losing streak reaches four with one-run loss to Cardinals
PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Pirates' losing skid continued on Wednesday night, as they dropped their fourth consecutive game and fell, 5-4, to the St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park.
The defeat confirms the Pirates' first series loss against a National League Central opponent. They're now 2-4 in the midst of 10 consecutive games against their Central rivals and have lost six of their last nine games.
Pirates starter Bubba Chandler performed better than he did in his last outing, but still struggled with his command. He walked four batters in his five innings. While he only allowed three hits, they resulted in three runs.
Mars native JJ Wetherholt had an RBI double in the third inning, scoring Ramon Urias, who walked, from second. The rookie Wetherholt is 4 for 12 (.333) with a homer, three doubles and four runs scored in the series.
With two outs in the fifth, Chandler allowed his second hit of the game when Ivan Herrera doubled down the left field line. Chandler then left a 1-1 slider down the middle that Alec Burleson hammered over the left-center field wall.
After Spencer Horwitz homered in the sixth, the first and only run the Pirates managed against St. Louis starter Andre Pallante, the Cardinals tacked on two more against Evan Sisk and new Pirate Chris Devenski in the seventh.
Sisk started the inning by hitting Victor Scott II, who promptly stole second and third, the latter when Devenski was slow to the plate. Herrera's infield single scored Scott from third, then a Jordan Walker single scored Herrera.
The Pirates cut the lead in half in the bottom half. With the bases loaded, Cardinals manager Oli Marmol brought in left-hander JoJo Romero to face Lowe. Pirates manager Don Kelly pinch-hit Nick Yorke for Lowe, just as he had a week ago. Yorke responded with a two-run single up the middle to score two runs, but the Pirates left the bases loaded on strikeouts from Ryan O'Hearn and a weak groundout from Marcell Ozuna.
It was over when …
… the Pirates couldn't capitalize on one more opportunity in the eighth. Down 5-3, a rare error from Gold Glove shortstop Masyn Winn loaded the bases for Oneil Cruz, but Cruz's fielder's choice only scored one. Yorke lined out to end the threat, stranding runners on first and third.
O'Hearn singled off Cardinals closer Ryan O'Brien in the ninth, but Nick Gonzales' two-out fly ball was caught on the left field warning track.
On the mound
Pirate pitchers combined for 10 strikeouts, including six from Chandler. He drew 11 whiffs.
Dennis Santana threw a clean eighth inning, rebounding from his blown save on Monday night.
The Pirates allowed five runs on six hits, although six walks (one intentional) and a hit batter didn't help.
At the plate
The Pirates stranded 10 runners and went 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position.
A single from Gonzales extended his career-best hitting streak to 10 games. Joey Bart (2 for 3) was the lone Pirate with multiple hits, while Bryan Reynolds was the only starter to go hitless.
Most valuable player
Herrera went 2 for 4 with a double, a walk, an RBI and two runs scored.
Up next
The Pirates look to avoid a four-game sweep on Thursday afternoon, and they'll have their ace on the hill. Paul Skenes (4-1, 2.48 ERA) will face Cardinals right-hander Hunter Dobbins, who will be making his season debut. Dobbins went 4-1 with a 4.13 ERA in 13 appearances (11 starts) for the Boston Red Sox in 2025.
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This story was originally published April 29, 2026 at 7:23 PM.