PITTSBURGH (AP) Francisco Cervelli hit his fourth home run of the season as part of a two-RBI effort in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 6-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday.
He hit just five homers in all of 2017.
It’s been quite a strong start for the 32-year-old. Through the Pirates’ first 27 games, he leads the team in RBIs with 20, is second in home runs and batting average (.307) and on-base percentage (.393).
Cervelli credits the hot start to finally being healthy after a year and a half of near-constant maladies. He had hamate bone surgery in 2016, an injury that takes a long time to fully heal. In 2017, he suffered multiple concussions, groin, foot, quadriceps and wrist injuries that all cost him playing time.
Cervelli started the Pirates scoring in the second inning with a solo home, then came through as part of a big effort against in the St. Louis bullpen.
St. Louis right-hander Jack Flaherty (0-1) started the sixth inning with back-to-back walks before being lifted for Dominic Leone. Josh Bell hit an RBI single and Cervelli’s fly ball to center scored Starling Marte to give Pittsburgh its first lead of the game.
The Pirates added on against the Cardinals’ bullpen in the seventh. Pinch-hitter David Freese had a sacrifice fly and Corey Dickerson singled in Sean Rodriguez.
Colin Moran scored on Jose Martinez’s error on a Gregory Polanco grounder in the eighth.
It was the second consecutive night the Pirates waited out the St. Louis starter to pile on to the bullpen. They came back from a 5-0 defect to win 6-5 on Friday.
Flaherty was charged with three runs and four hits in five-plus innings. The rookie right-hander struck out two and walked four.
Pirates starter Trevor Williams (4-1) pitched six innings of two-run ball. Michael Feliz, George Kontos and Edgar Santana combined for three scoreless innings in relief.
TOUGH CALL
Cardinals reliever Mike Mayers was called for a quick pitch in strange circumstance in the sixth inning. Mayers had a 1-2 count on Moran and threw a 95-mph fastball that Moran hit into center field for what appeared to be a fly out.
But home plate umpire Gabe Morales called a quick pitch on Mayers, despite no one being on base. Mayers was charged with a ball and eventually walked Moran.
MAKING MOVES
Flaherty was re-called from AAA Memphis to start in place of injured right-hander Adam Wainwright (elbow inflammation), while OF Tyler O’Neill was optioned to the minors. O’Neill was 0 for 7 with three strikeouts since first being recalled on April 19.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: RHP Joe Musgrove (shoulder strain) will make his first rehab start with Class A Bradenton on Tuesday. He’s expected to throw three innings. Musgrove has been on the disabled list since March 30. 2B Josh Harrison (hand fracture) took infield practice with a modified glove. He’s still expected to be about a month away from returning.
UP NEXT
The Cardinals will look to avoid getting swept in Pittsburgh Sunday as they go with Luke Weaver, and Nick Kingham gets the start for the Pirates. The first pitch at PNC Park is scheduled for 12:35. Sunday’s game can be heard on KTLO-AM. The broadcast begins at 11:40 with Ameren Total Access.
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