Recap: Pittsburgh vs. St. Louis

By Sports Network

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Jason Michaels hit the game-winning, two-run home run in the bottom of the 10th inning, as the Pittsburgh Pirates pulled off an improbable come-from-behind-twice win over the St. Louis Cardinals, 12-11, in the middle contest of a three-game set.

Troy Glaus crushed the third pitch he saw from Denny Bautista (3-2) over the fence in left to give the Cards a one-run lead in the 10th. Kyle McClellan then went down looking at the third strike for the first out and Yadier Molina hit a soft grounder for the second out. Joe Mather went down swinging for the final out.

Raul Chavez led off the home 10th with a single to left field and Chris Perez was called on in relief. Jose Bautista popped up to shallow left for the first out, though Michaels hit a game-ending two-run homer to left.

Jason Bay hit two home runs totaling five RBI for the Pirates, who have won two of their last three contests. Nate McLouth hit a three-run homer and Adam LaRoche had a solo shot.

Starter Yoslan Herrera, who made his major-league debut in place of the injured Phil Dumatrait, lasted 4 1/3 innings and gave up six runs on 11 hits.

Ryan Ludwick had a two-run homer and also finagled a triple for the Cardinals, who have dropped three of four. Glaus hit a solo homer in defeat, as the Cardinals totaled 22 hits.

Starter Todd Wellemeyer lasted 6 1/3 frames and gave up four runs on four hits. Chris Perez (2-1) was credited with his second blown save and the loss, as he gave up the home run in the 10th.

The Pirates wasted no time in getting on the board. McLouth led the home first off with a walk, Rivas and Doumit then both flied out, but Bay deposited a fastball over the fence in right-center for a 2-0 Pittsburgh advantage.

The Cardinals took the lead in the third frame. Aaron Miles led off with a single and crossed home as Ludwick followed with a triple. Albert Pujols crushed a ball to deep left, which Bay caught at the track, though it allowed Ludwick to come around. Rick Ankiel then doubled, and Glaus drew a walk, before Chris Duncan struck out. Molina belted an RBI single to left which gave St. Louis a 3-2 cushion.

Miles walked in the fourth and Ludwick followed with a homer just out of the reach of Bay in left, giving the Cards a 5-2 lead.

Later in the fourth, Doug Mientkiewicz was thrown out by second base umpire Eric Cooper for arguing as Pujols was called safe sliding into second, though the replay clearly showed Mientkiewicz applied the tag in time. Bautista took over at third after Mientkiewicz's departure.

LaRoche crushed a fastball into the seats in right-center during the home fourth, cutting Pittsburgh's deficit to two runs.

Molina singled to lead off the fifth inning and moved to second as Wellemeyer layed down a sac bunt. Adam Kennedy then singled up the middle, scoring Molina and bringing Osoria on in relief. Osoria got out of the inning, but it was 6-3 in favor of the Cards.

T.J. Beam was called on to pitch the sixth and gave up back-to-back doubles to Pujols and Ankiel, the latter scoring Pujols. After a brief coaching visit to the mound, Glaus clubbed an RBI single to left giving St. Louis an 8-3 lead.

Burnett took the hill for the Pirates in the seventh and gave up a ground- rule double to Miles. Ludwick followed with a single, making it a 9-3 game.

Pittsburgh got a run back in the home seventh. LaRoche clubbed a ground-rule double and came around to score as Bautista followed with a single.

The Cardinals made it 10-4 in the eighth. Glaus led off the frame with a single off Yates and scored when pinch-hitter Mather doubled.

Franklin took the mound for the Cards in the home eighth and gave up a one- out single to Rivas. Doumit flied out, but Bay hit a homer to center, making it 10-6.

Jason Isringhausen was on the mound in the home ninth and got Bautista to go down swinging. Michaels worked a walk and Jack Wilson singled before McLouth homered to right-center, making it a one-run game.

McClellan then took over on the mound and gave up a single to Rivas. Doumit hit a single to the gap in right, leaving runners on the corners. Bay then grounded into what looked like a double play, though Miles couldn't get the ball out of his glove and only recorded the out at second, scoring the tying run.