BASEBALL: Ivan Herrera blast helps rescue Cardinals against Pirates

The defeated the 9-6 in 10 innings on Tuesday night after Ivan Herrera blasted a three-run home run to left-center field at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

Herrera’s 410-foot walk-off homer came off Pirates reliever Mason Montgomery in the bottom of the 10th inning and capped a strong offensive performance for the Cardinals, who won for the fourth time in their last five games. The Pirates, meanwhile, suffered their fourth straight loss.

The Cardinals also received home runs from Nolan Gorman, JJ Wetherholt and Alec Burleson. Herrera delivered the decisive hit after Wetherholt singled to put runners on the corners and advance automatic runner Victor Scott II to third base.

George Soriano earned the win for St. Louis after retiring the Pirates in order in the top of the 10th inning, leaving Brandon Lowe stranded at second base.

Pittsburgh forced extra innings after rallying in the ninth inning. Trailing 6-4, the Pirates loaded the bases against Cardinals closer Riley O’Brien with no outs. Marcell Ozuna grounded into a double play that scored Nick Gonzales before Spencer Horwitz tied the game with a two-out RBI single that brought home Konnor Griffin.

Gorman gave the Cardinals a 6-4 lead in the sixth inning with a two-run homer off reliever Evan Sisk. The blast came shortly after the Pirates erased a 3-0 deficit in the fifth inning behind Bryan Reynolds’ game-tying two-run double and Oneil Cruz’s RBI single.

Cardinals starter Matthew Liberatore struck out nine batters but lasted only 4 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits and two walks.

Pirates starter Mitch Keller pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on four hits and one walk while striking out three batters.

-Field Level Media/Reuters