Lynn struggles in Cardinals’ loss to Pirates

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PITTSBURGH (AP)   Lance Lynn allowed eight runs in the first inning and the St. Louis Cardinals slipped up against the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-6 on Saturday night.

St. Louis (81-73) entered the day 1 1/2 games behind the Colorado Rockies, who play the San Diego Padres on Saturday night, for the second NL wild card. The loss ended the Cardinals’ four-game winning streak. St. Louis remained five games behind the Cubs in the NL Central after Chicago lost to the Milwaukee Brewers, who are a half-game ahead of St. Louis.

Lynn (11-8) got two outs before being pulled after six hits and eight runs. It was his shortest outing since Aug. 13, 2015, also at Pittsburgh.

Tommy Pham gave the Cardinals a 2-0 lead against Gerrit Cole (12-11) two batters into the game when he sent the first pitch of his at-bat over the center-field wall. Pham was 2 for 4 with three RBIs.

The rubber game of the series will be Sunday as John Gant starts for St. Louis, and the Pirates go with Jameson Taillon. The first pitch is scheduled for 12:35. Sunday’s game can be heard on KTLO-AM. The Ameren Pregame Show begins at 11:40.

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