Jordan Walker hit the game-breaking three-run double in the seventh inning as the Cardinals rallied past the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates 10-5 Wednesday night.
Brendan Donovan hit a two-run homer and Masyn Winn hit a solo shot for the Cardinals (77-75), who have won the first three games of this four-game series.
Nolan Arenado went 3-for-3 with two walks, two runs and an RBI for St. Louis.
Cardinals starter Sonny Gray allowed four runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out eight and walked none.
Michael McGreevy (2-0) worked the final three innings to earn the victory
Billy Cook hit a three-run homer for the Pirates (71-81), who lost for the fifth time in six games.
The Pirates promoted former Cardinals pitcher Jake Woodford from Triple-A Indianapolis for this start. He allowed four runs on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings while striking out five and walking none.
Reliever David Bednar (3-8) took the loss.
Home plate umpire D.J. Reyburn ejected Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol and hitting coach Turner Ward for protesting balls and strikes in the fourth inning.
St. Louis took a 2-0 lead in the second inning when Arenado hit a single and Donovan hit his homer.
The Cardinals made it 4-0 in the third inning on a single by Alec Burleson, an RBI triple by Paul Goldschmidt, and a run-scoring single by Arenado.
The Pirates cut their deficit to 4-2 in the fourth inning on doubles by Andrew McCutchen and Nick Gonzales, Bryan De La Cruz’s sacrifice fly, and Nick Yorke’s RBI single.
Pittsburgh surged ahead 5-4 in the sixth inning. Yorke and Jared Triolo hit singles and Cook greeted reliever Matthew Liberatore with his three-run homer.
The Cardinals powered to a 10-5 lead in the seventh against Bednar and Jalen Beeks. Winn hit his homer, then Goldschmidt reached on an error and Arenado and Donovan walked.
Ivan Herrera and Lars Nootbaar hit RBI singles before Walker hit his three-run double.