Matthew Liberatore pitches Cardinals to 5-1 victory that halts Pirates' 5-game winning streak

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St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Matthew Liberatore delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

St. Louis Cardinals' Alec Burleson follows through on a single off Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Brandon Eisert, driving in a run, during the third inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) — St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Matthew Liberatore delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Audio By Carbonatix

9:46 PM on Wednesday, September 23

By JOHN PERROTTO

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Matthew Liberatore ended an 11-start winless stretch and Alec Burleson got his major league-best 112th RBI as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1 on Wednesday night.

Liberatore (6-14) gave up one run and six hits in 5 2/3 innings with six strikeouts and no walks. His previous win came on July 11 against Atlanta in the left-hander’s last start before the All-Star break. Liberatore had lost eight straight decisions.

Burleson singled in the first run in a three-run third that put the Cardinals ahead 3-1. Iván Herrera scored on a wild pitch and Leo Bernal hit an RBI single.

Masyn Winn doubled home a run and scored on JJ Wetherholt’s single in the fourth to stretch the lead to 5-1. Wetherholt had three hits and José Fermín added two.

The Pirates’ five-game winning streak ended. It matched their longest of the season.

Brandon Lowe accounted for the Pirates’ lone run when he led off the second inning with his team-leading 34th homer, his first of two hits. Ryan O’Hearn had two doubles.

Brandon Eisert (3-3) retired just two of the five betters he faced and was charged with three runs in relief of opener Lake Bachar.

St. Louis (77-81) must win its final four games to avoid its first consecutive losing seasons since 1958 and '59. Pittsburgh (80-78) needs to at least split its last four games to finish with a winning record for the first time since 2018.

Up next

The rubber match of the three game-series is Thursday, with St. Louis RHP Kyle Leahy (10-5, 3.65 ERA) facing 2025 NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes (10-11, 3.91).

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