Cardinals stay in the hunt with 3-2 win

PITTSBURGH -- Yadier Molina normally would have been given off a day game following a night game.

But with the Cardinals trying to gain in the NL Central and wild card, Molina was back behind the plate Wednesday. His tiebreaking, two-run double led St. Louis over the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2.

"I feel good, man. I feel healthy," Molina said. "When you're in the pennant race, you don't feel tired."

St. Louis, which has 13 games left, has won seven of eight and remained 4 1/2 games behind Atlanta in the NL wild-card race.

Molina, a three-time Gold Glove winner, is having the best offensive season of his eight-year career. He's batting .295 with 12 home runs and 60 RBIs. The homers are a career high, and he is two RBIs from matching his best.

Outfielder Jon Jay, right, celebrates with first baseman Albert Pujols after the Cardinals defeated the Pirates 3-2 on Wednesday in Pittsburgh. (GENE PUSKAR ~ Associated Press)

"It's about winning right now," Molina said. "I don't care about numbers. We're winning, and that's the important thing."

St. Louis manager Tony La Russa made it a point to give Molina regular rest this season after he played in 140 games in 2009 and 136 last year.

Edwin Jackson (5-2) allowed two runs and eight hits over 6 2/3 innings.

"Anytime you can get a quality start and the team wins, it's a good day," Jackson said. "It's a game we really needed. We can't afford to lose a series."

He improved to 4-0 against Pittsburgh in his career.

St. Louis Cardinals pitchers Jake Westbrook, left, Kyle Lohse, center, and Chris Carpenter watch from the dugout rail during the second inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2011. The Cardinals won 3-2. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

"He doesn't get bothered when guys get on base," La Russa said. "He just comes back and makes tough pitches."

Three relievers combined to hold Pittsburgh scoreless over the final 2 1/3 innings. Jason Motte pitched a perfect ninth for his seventh save in 10 chances.

The Pirates clinched their 19th consecutive losing season, extending a record for a major league franchise in North America.

A year after going a big league-worst 57-105, the Pirates were 51-44 and led the NL Central by a half-game before play July 20. But they have gone 16-38 since, and at 67-82 are ensured of another sub.-500 record.

La Russa thinks Pittsburgh is getting better.

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Edwin Jackson delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2011. The Cardinals won 3-2. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

"They compete," he said. "Clint [Hurdle] and his coaching staff have done a really good job of getting their players to play hard for nine innings. They've played us tough and everybody else, too."

Molina doubled, a drive off the out-of-town scoreboard in right field off Charlie Morton (9-10) with the score tied 1-1 in the fourth.

"I was just looking to drive in a run in that situation," Molina said. "He likes to pitch me on the outside part of the plate, and I got a pitch up and away that I could drive."

Derrek Lee, who had three hits, pulled the Pirates within a run when he hit an RBI double in the sixth.

Rafael Furcal hit a double on the game's first pitch and scored on Allen Craig's two-out double.

Pittsburgh tied it in the third when Michael McKenry led off with a double and Alex Presley drove him home with one out with the first of his two doubles.

Noteworthy

* Cardinals LF Matt Holliday missed the game because he returned to St. Louis to be examined after spraining his right hand Tuesday night while taking practice swings in the on deck circle in the ninth inning. Furcal, the Cardinals' shortstop, left in the fifth inning with a strained right knee sustained when he was thrown out trying to steal second base. The Cardinals still were awaiting news on Holliday after the game, while Furcal said he should not miss any games.

* St. Louis is off today before facing the NL East-leading Phillies.