Pham single lifts Pirates over Cardinals 2-1

Tommy Pham hit a two-run single in the sixth inning to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night.

The highly-touted Bubba Chandler (1-0) pitched four scoreless innings of relief of starter Carmen Mlodzinski for his first win in his second major league game. 

Isiah Kiner-Falefa doubled leading off the sixth against Sonny Gray (12-7). Jared Triolo walked and Spencer Horwitz reached on a throwing error by first baseman Willson Contreras to load the bases. Gray retired Bryan Reynolds on a forceout at home before Pham hit the next pitch up the middle.

Masyn Winn had a two-out single off Mlodzinski in the second and Thomas Saggese walked before Pedro Pagés singled to put the Cardinals up 1-0.

Pittsburgh won the season series with the Cardinals for the second time in the last 12 seasons.

Pirates RHP Braxton Ashcraft (4-2, 2.70 ERA) starts Thursday’s series finale opposite Cardinals RHP Miles Mikolas (6-10, 5.17).



(AP Photo Jeff Roberson)