PITTSBURGH — Yadier Molina doubled in the go-ahead run in the ninth inning with his fourth hit, and the St. Louis Cardinals took advantage of several Pittsburgh defensive lapses and a key baserunning mistake to beat the Pirates 4-3 on Friday night.
Joe Mather, pinch running in the ninth after Matt Holliday singled off Evan Meek (1-1) for his fourth hit, arrived well behind the throw as he tried to steal second on a pitchout, but managed to sneak his right hand in ahead of Aki Iwamura’s tag. Molina followed with his double to the right-field wall.
Ryan Franklin (2-0) got the final four outs for the victory despite throwing a tying wild pitch in a wild eighth inning, when five of the Pirates’ six batters reached base but only one scored.
After Andy LaRoche and Andrew McCutchen singled off Jason Motte in the eighth, LaRoche was caught in a rundown between third and the plate on Garrett Jones’ grounder. LaRoche and McCutchen both ended up on third, and catcher Molina alertly tagged both out as LaRoche — who was entitled to the bag — momentarily took his foot off the base.
Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter was denied his 11th consecutive victory in 12 starts against Pittsburgh since June 2004 — and a 5-0 start this season — when the Pirates tied it. Carpenter struck out eight and walked none over seven innings, allowing Lastings Milledge’s RBI single in the fourth and Ryan Doumit’s run-scoring double in the sixth.
Marlins 4, Nationals 2
WASHINGTON — Gaby Sanchez hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning and the Florida Marlins snapped a three-game skid with a victory over the Washington Nationals on Friday night.
Pinch-hitter Bryan Petersen singled in his major league debut, starting the decisive rally against Brian Bruney (1-2). Petersen moved to second when Bruney fumbled Chris Coghlan’s bunt attempt for an error and Sanchez followed with a looper to right-center, breaking a 2-all tie.
After an intentional walk to Hanley Ramirez, Jorge Cantu’s sacrifice fly made it 4-2.
Marlins right-hander Chris Volstad (3-2) went seven innings, yielding four hits and two runs. He walked two and struck out four.
Cantu homered for Florida and Ryan Zimmerman connected for Washington.
First for Twins in 30 years: rainout
MINNEAPOLIS — For nearly as long as Jake Nyberg has been alive, there had never been a rainout in Minnesota.
The 30-year-old St. Paul resident, along with an entire generation of Twins fans, grew up watching his team play under the dingy roof of the Metrodome, which protected the players and fans from the elements for 28 seasons.
The Twins moved outdoors to brand new Target Field this year, and their first rainout since 1980 came on Friday when steady rain caused the postponement of their game against the Baltimore Orioles.
The game will be made up as part of a day-night doubleheader on Saturday, with fans who had tickets for Friday’s game able to redeem them for the nightcap.
