Cardinals fall to Pirates in 14 innings

PITTSBURGH -- Andrew McCutchen's two-run home run in the 14th inning capped Pittsburgh's third rally of the night and helped the Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-4 on Saturday night.

McCutchen's homer to center off of Nick Greenwood (0-1) immediately followed Neil Walker's leadoff single and extended his hitting streak to a career-high 18 games. It was his 12th home run of the season.

Jhonny Peralta's single off Vance Worley (3-4) in the top of the inning drove in Matt Carpenter.

Pittsburgh scored twice in the eighth to tie the game after falling behind 3-0, and Chris Stewart singled in Jung Ho Kang in the 10th after Mark Reynolds' second homer of the game had given St. Louis another lead in the top of the inning.

Kang and Pedro Alvarez had RBI singles in the eighth for the Pirates, who have won seven of eight and 10 of 12. Pittsburgh, which has the NL's second-best record, lost the first three games of the season series with the Cardinals in extra innings in May.

Both of Reynolds' homers came with no one on base and were pulled down the left-field line. The first of which -- in the second inning -- ultimately resulted in ejections of Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli and manager Clint Hurdle, who were upset home plate umpire Vic Carapazza ruled a foul tip on an 0-2 pitch immediately preceding the homer.

In a starters' matchup of two of the six winningest active pitchers in the majors, The Cardinals' John Lackey outdueled A.J. Burnett. Lackey allowed one run -- a Burnett homer, his first in almost a decade -- on five hits and two walks in 6 2-3 innings.

Burnett was looking to make his first All-Star game appearance Tuesday with a sub-2.00 ERA, but the three runs on six hits and three walks he allowed in 6 2-3 innings Saturday increased his ERA from 1.99 to 2.11.

UP NEXT

Pirates LHP Francisco Liriano has allowed more than three runs in just three of his 17 starts this season. However, that lone occasion came at PNC Park against the Cardinals, whom he will face in a nationally-televised game Sunday night. Pittsburgh has lost both of Liriano's starts against St. Louis this season.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Cardinals: RHP Mitch Harris was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday after sustaining a right groin strain while warming up in the bullpen Friday night. ... All-star OF Matt Holliday, out since June 9 (right quad strain), did some running Saturday. "We're just trying to pace it now, get him ready to play when we get back (from the break) against New York," manager Mike Matheny said.

Pirates: OF Starling Marte returned to the lineup Saturday after missing the previous five games because of discomfort in his left side. The team leader in home runs, Marte batted cleanup.