Pirates beat Cardinals 8-3; Contreras appeals 6-game suspension

Henry Davis homered, Bryan Reynolds hit a pair of doubles and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 8-3 on Tuesday night.

Mitch Keller (6-12) allowed three runs on three hits and struck out nine in six innings for the Pirates, who have won five of six.

Andre Pallante (6-12) allowed eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits and a walk in five innings. He is 0-4 with a 11.65 ERA over 17 innings in his last four starts.

Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras went 0-for-3 after he appealed his 6-game suspension and fine for his tirade in St. Louis’ 7-6 win over Pittsburgh on Monday night.

On Monday, Contreras threw a bat that mistakenly hit Cardinals hitting coach Brant Brown and tossed bubble gum on the field after he was ejected. Manager Oliver Marmol also was tossed during an animated argument with the umpires after a called third strike in the seventh inning.

Contreras said he didn’t understand why he was thrown out of the game. He said he argued balls and strikes with plate umpire Derek Thomas but didn’t address a specific pitch and didn’t say anything disrespectful.

Crew chief Jordan Baker told a pool reporter that Contreras and Marmol were ejected for “saying vulgar stuff” to Thomas. Baker also said Contreras made contact with the plate umpire.


Carmen Mlodzinski (3-7, 3.89 ERA) starts Wednesday night for the Pirates against the Cardinals’ Sonny Gray (12-6, 4.33).



(AP Photo Jeff Roberson)