SAN DIEGO (AP) — After a slow start to his season that included four straight losses, 34-year-old Clayton Richard is looking strong for the San Diego Padres.

Richard matched his career high with 10 strikeouts in eight brilliant innings for his first win in more than a month, and the Padres beat struggling Adam Wainwright and the St. Louis Cardinals 5-3 Sunday to salvage a split of their four-game series. Wainwright said afterward that he re-aggravated an elbow injury that had landed him on the disabled list.

Richard (2-5) held the Cardinals to two runs and five hits while walking only one to win for the first time since April 9 at Colorado. He then had a no-decision and four straight losses.

“He’s been big for us in a lot of different ways, from a leadership standpoint, from an innings standpoint, from a win standpoint,” manager Andy Green said. “It’s a big win for us today. That gave us a split after being down two-nothing.”

Richard said it was important to go deep into the game because Saturday night’s game went 13 innings before the Padres won 2-1.

“You know the situation both clubs are in, having had a game like that last night. So you want to do everything you can to stay in the game as long as you can. Fortunately today it worked out for us that way.”

Richard has been plagued by poor run support, with the Padres scoring no runs for the big left-hander in four of his previous eight starts. Included was his last start, when he pitched three-hit ball for eight innings and struck out eight but lost 4-0 to Washington.

Richard got enough backing Sunday thanks to Wainwright’s wildness. The 36-year-old right-hander was activated from the 10-day disabled list after a bout with right elbow inflammation and walked six in just 2 1/3 innings, throwing 79 pitches. He allowed two runs on three hits and struck out three.

Richard got into trouble only in the sixth, when he walked Tommy Pham and then allowed an RBI triple by Harrison Bader and an RBI single by Jose Martinez.

Otherwise, he was throwing his slider well enough to match his career strikeout high set June 30, 2010, against Colorado.

Wainwright (1-3) threw 33 pitches in the first inning, loading the bases with two outs on a single and two walks, but didn’t yield any runs.

He wasn’t as lucky in the third. He walked the bases loaded with one out and then allowed a single by Cory Spangenberg and was pulled in favor of John Gant. Freddy Galvis followed with a sacrifice fly.

The Padres added on in the fourth with three hits against Gant, with Jose Pirela hitting an RBI double and Franchy Cordero following with an RBI single.

Brad Hand struggled through the ninth for his 11th save in 13 opportunities. Hand allowed Bader’s leadoff homer, his third, and then loaded the bases with one out, on two walks and a hit batter. He struck out Carson Kelly and Kolten Wong to end it.

Wainwright said he re-aggravated his elbow problem on the third-to-last warmup pitch.

“It’s tough. If I’m able to go out there and make pitches and put my arm in the position where it allows me to execute, then I will take my chances against anyone,” he said. “But I wasn’t able to execute, so I was falling behind and I didn’t want to give in, so I was walking some guys.

“Luckily we got through the first two innings, got out of a couple of jams. But if you keep putting yourself you in binds, it’s going to be tough.”

He couldn’t locate his fastball or throw his good cutter.

“I need to pause and get it right,” Wainwright said. “This team deserves more than that and the fans deserve more than that and the organization does, too. If I’m going to be a force down the stretch, I need to get healthy first. Luckily we have a lot of young guys primed for this position.”

Said manager Mike Matheny: “That’s not the pitcher he wants to be. It’s the pitcher he had to be today but that’s not the pitcher he wants to be.”

QUOTABLE

“He was lobbying for the ninth. I tried to explain to him, a guy who was valedictorian of his high school class, that I was pinch-hitting for him at the time he was lobbying for the opportunity to stay in the game,” Green said of Richard. “His competitive nature won out over his intellect for a moment.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Padres: Placed RHP Phil Maton on the 10-day disabled list with a right lat strain and recalled RHP Kazuhisa Makita from Triple-A El Paso.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Jack Flaherty (0-1, 3.60) is scheduled to start Tuesday night in the opener of a two-game series at Minnesota, which counters with RHP Jose Berrios (3-4, 4.50).

Padres: Rookie LHP Joey Lucchesi (3-2, 2.98) is scheduled to start the opener of a two-game series Monday night against Colorado, which counters with LHP Tyler Anderson (2-1, 4.23).

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Amid a bitterly cold April that led to four weather-related postponements, the Minnesota Twins never really had a chance to reap the rewards of a busy offseason.

Now that the weather’s turned, the Twins are starting to live up to the lofty expectations that followed the franchise’s first postseason appearance in seven seasons.

Led by a strong pitching performance from Jake Odorizzi and a two-run home by Eduardo Escobar, Minnesota beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-1 on Tuesday for a season-high fifth straight victory.

The win capped a two-game series sweep for the Twins, who pulled within two games of .500 and have won 14 of their last 17 games against National League teams. For a team that had lost 11 of 12 a week ago, the turnaround has been a welcomed relief — along with playing regularly after last month’s postponements.

“It’s hard to have an All-Star break in April,” Odorizzi said. “We didn’t play good on that road trip and it showed. Now we got that behind us and playing good baseball, I think we see what the real Twins can do.”

Odorizzi (3-2) allowed just two hits in five innings and one run, a homer by Jose Martinez in the first inning. The right-hander combined with three relievers to retire the final 18 batters of the game.

Escobar had two of Minnesota’s 10 hits. Robbie Grossman had a two-run double in the fifth inning as the Twins won for the sixth time in seven games.

“We’re playing better in all phases right now,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said. “We’re executing, especially over the last handful of days. We caught them at the right time I guess.”

Carlos Martinez (3-2) saw his stretch of six straight starts allowing one or fewer runs end. The right-hander allowed four runs in five innings, with two of the runs unearned on a day when the Cardinals matched their season worst with three errors.

The Cardinals had just two hits in the loss and six hits combined in the two games against the Twins. St. Louis has now lost two in a row after a season-best five-game winning streak, including a weekend sweep of the Chicago Cubs that ended with a 14-inning victory at nearly 1 a.m. Monday.

“It looks like this weekend might have caught up with us a little bit, but we’ve got to play better and we know that,” St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. “… They’ve got a good offense, but we didn’t show them our team.”

ROSARIO’S STREAK

Minnesota’s Eddie Rosario extended his hitting streak to nine games with his second-inning single. The outfielder finished 2 for 5 and has now hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games — batting .396 (21 for 53) during that stretch.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Twins: Molitor said Gold Glove center fielder Byron Buxton ran the bases before the game and could return as soon as Thursday. Buxton has been out since April 12th with a hairline fracture of his left big toe.

Cardinals: Center fielder Tommy Pham missed a second straight game with a lingering hip abductor injury. Matheny said giving Pham off on Tuesday made sense with Wednesday an off day. The 30-year-old is likely to return to the lineup against San Diego on Thursday.

UP NEXT

Twins: Minnesota has off on Wednesday before beginning a four-game series at the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday. Right-hander Jose Berrios (3-3, 3.98 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Twins. He allowed four or more runs in each of his last three starts.

Cardinals: Miles Mikolas (4-0, 2.70 ERA) starts for St. Louis when it opens a four-game series at San Diego on Thursday. The right-hander threw seven scoreless innings against the Chicago Cubs in his last start. He’s struck out 31 and walked only two batters in 40 innings this season.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Fernando Romero didn’t allow a run for the second straight start to begin his major league career, throwing six sharp innings to lead the Minnesota Twins over the St. Louis Cardinals 6-0 on Monday night.

The victory was a season-high fourth straight for the Twins, who have won 13 of their last 16 games against National League opponents dating to last year.

St. Louis had its season-best five-game winning streak snapped, one night after finishing a weekend sweep of the rival Chicago Cubs at nearly 1 a.m.

Romero (2-0) permitted just three hits and struck out nine while throwing 97 pitches. The 23-year-old right-hander tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings in his debut last week, a win over Toronto.

Eddie Rosario helped keep Romero’s shutout streak intact in the first inning. The left fielder crashed into the wall and reached over it to catch what likely would have been a two-run homer for St. Louis’ Dexter Fowler.

Robbie Grossman went 3 for 4 with two RBI, and Bobby Wilson knocked in two runs for Minnesota.

John Gant (1-1) gave up six hits and four runs in 5 1/3 innings for the Cardinals.

Paul DeJong had three of St. Louis’ four hits.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Twins: Minnesota manager Paul Molitor said Gold Glove CF Byron Buxton went through running drills in the outfield and plans to run the bases Tuesday. Buxton has been out since April 12 with a hairline fracture in his left big toe, but Molitor said the 24-year-old is expected to travel with the team to California this week and could return then.

Cardinals: Adam Wainwright made a rehab start at Double-A Springfield, allowing two hits in five scoreless innings. The right-hander is returning from elbow inflammation, and manager Mike Matheny said Wainwright will likely return to the Cardinals’ rotation for his next start. … CF Tommy Pham was out of the starting lineup for the second consecutive game with a lingering hip injury. Pham pinch-hit in Sunday night’s 14-inning win over the Cubs. Matheny said the 30-year-old was “lobbying pretty hard” to start Monday and could return to the lineup on Tuesday.

UP NEXT

Twins: After striking out a season-high eight in his last outing, Jake Odorizzi takes the mound as Minnesota closes out its two-game interleague series in St. Louis on Tuesday afternoon. The right-hander is 2-2 with a 4.10 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 37 1/3 innings this season.

Cardinals: Carlos Martinez (3-1) has allowed one run or less in six straight starts and is second in the National League with a 1.40 ERA.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — For the St. Louis Cardinals, there’s more importance to their early season games with the Chicago Cubs this year than most seasons.

The games are about St. Louis putting to rest any leftover doubts after a dismal 5-14 record against its rival a year ago.

The Cardinals showed on Saturday they aren’t about to just lie down and let the Cubs cruise to a third straight National League Central title. Kolten Wong hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning to cap an 8-6 win, one which had all the back-and-forth of a postseason affair rather than an early May contest.

Wong’s game-ending blast put the finishing touch on a game in which St. Louis trailed 4-0 after one inning and by two runs entering the bottom of the ninth. Both times the Cardinals recovered on their way to a fourth straight win, along with wining for the third time in four games against Chicago this season.

“I’ve never (played) in the World Series or those kinds of games,” St. Louis outfielder Marcell Ozuna said. “This feels like more than a regular game.”

Ozuna tied the game in the ninth inning with a two-run double off Chicago closer Brandon Morrow, who allowed his first runs of the season. An inning later, it was Wong who sent a 1-1 pitcher from Luke Farrell (1-1) into the right field seats for the game winner.

“We would have loved a double, and the homer was even better,” St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said.

Wong’s game-ending home run is the third of his career, his first since a victory over Pittsburgh on May 3, 2015.

The blast made a winner out of reliever Tyler Lyons (1-0), and it sent Chicago to a season-worst fourth loss in a row. Anthony Rizzo homered for a third time in four games for the Cubs, who lost despite scoring more than three runs in a game for the first time since April 24th.

Javier Baez added his eighth home run in the loss for Chicago, which had won five games in a row before its current losing stretch.

“They’re a good team, they’re always a good team,” Rizzo said. “They put together hits, they put together rallies and it’s a good group of guys and they play hard.”

INJURED CARDINALS

Center fielder Tommy Pham, catcher Yadier Molina and Norris were all taken out of Saturday’s game with injuries. Pham, who is hitting .327 and has scored 24 runs this season, was taken out in the second inning with right groin tightness. Molina was lifted in the eighth inning after being hit in the groin by a tipped 102-mph pitch from reliever Jordan Hicks, and Norris had to exit after getting the first two outs of the 10th because of tightness in his triceps. Matheny said all three would be evaluated on Sunday.

MORROW’S SORROW

Chicago had been 14-0 when leading after six innings this season, thanks in large part to a bullpen that was third in the National League with a combined 2.57 ERA. Morrow had thrown 10 scoreless innings in his first season with the Cubs before allowing the two ninth-inning runs on Saturday, and the runs ended his overall scoreless streak of 18 1/3 innings that dated back to last season.

CHATWOOD’S WALKS

Cubs starter Tyler Chatwood walked five batters while allowing three earned runs in four innings of work. The former Colorado Rockies starter has now walked 27 batters in 32 2/3 innings this season, though his ERA still stands at a respectable 3.31. “It’s delivery-related because he’s pretty tough,” Chicago manager Joe Maddon said. “I just think he needs to find that rhythm.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cubs: Chicago manager Joe Maddon said there was no updated on the progress of reliever Eddie Butler, who has been on the disabled list since April 20th with a right groin strain. Butler is 0-1 with a 4.30 ERA in six games this season.

Cardinals: St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said reliever Dominic Leone is likely headed to the disabled list after exiting Friday night’s game during warmups with cramping in his right biceps. Matheny said Leone’s arm is “structurally” healthy, and that the Cardinals wanted to wait a day before making a roster move to see how Leone responded. Leone is 1-2 with a 4.15 ERA in 15 appearances this season.

UP NEXT

Cubs: Jon Lester (3-2, 2.73 ERA) didn’t allow an earned run 5 2/3 innings in his last start, a Chicago win over Colorado. The left-hander will try and continue his resurgent season when the Cubs close out their series against St. Louis on Sunday night.

Cardinals: Michael Wacha has allowed two or fewer runs in four of his last five starts, and he’ll get the start for St. Louis against the Cubs on Sunday night. The right-hander is 4-1 with a 3.62 ERA this season.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Miles Mikolas continued his early season dominance of the National League Central, throwing seven shutout innings in the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2 win over the Chicago Cubs on Friday night.

The win is the third straight for the Cardinals, their second in three games this season against a Chicago team they lost 14 of 19 games against a year ago. The Cubs, meanwhile, have now lost three games in a row for the first time this season.

Mikolas (4-0) allowed seven hits in his sixth start after signing with St. Louis during the offseason. Each of the right-hander’s starts has come against Central teams, and he’s allowed two or fewer runs in four straight games — throwing seven innings in each.

After pitching for three seasons in Japan, Mikolas’ ERA fell to 2.70 in the win. He didn’t walk a batter for the third straight start and has now allowed only two walks in 40 innings this season.

Tommy Pham provided the scoring for St. Louis with a three-run home run off Chicago starter Jose Quintana (3-2) in the second inning. All three of the runs were unearned after an error by Cubs shortstop Javier Baez, his eighth error of the season and third in his last five games.

Bud Norris earned his seventh save in seven chances for the Cardinals, doing so despite allowing three hits and a pair of runs in the ninth inning.

WAINWRIGHT’S RETURN

St. Louis starter Adam Wainwright threw a bullpen session on Friday, and Cardinals General Manager Michael Girsch said he would meet with the right-hander on Saturday to decide his next step in returning from elbow inflammation. Wainwright has been on the disabled list since April 20th, and Girsch said it’s possible the 36-year-old will need a rehab start before returning to the Cardinals rotation. Wainwright is 1-2 with a 3.45 ERA in three starts this season.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cubs: Addison Russell sat out for the second time in six games for Chicago, with Baez starting at shortstop instead. Manager Joe Maddon said the day off for Russell wasn’t injury related.

Cardinals: Girsch said reliever Brett Cecil is expected to have one more outing in extended spring training and could possibly start a rehab assignment next week. Cecil has been out since injuring his left shoulder on opening day.

UP NEXT

Cubs: After his best performance with Chicago, right-hander Tyler Chatwood starts for the Cubs in the second game of the weekend series on Saturday. Chatwood threw seven scoreless innings in a win over Milwaukee last weekend, and he’s 2/3 with a 2.83 ERA in his first season after leaving Colorado to sign with Chicago.

Cardinals: St. Louis starter Luke Weaver has allowed four of more runs in each of his last three starts. The right-hander will try and improve on his 2-2 record and 5.17 ERA when he takes the mound on Saturday afternoon against the Cubs.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Carlos Martinez wasn’t sure how to react.

The St. Louis right-hander took his time as he circled the bases after hitting his first major league home run in the Cardinals’ 3-2 win over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.

“I was slow because it was so exciting,” Martinez said. “I was running, but I wanted it to last.”

Dexter Fowler added a two-run homer for the Cardinals, who won their second game in a row.

Chicago has dropped four straight and 13 of 17. The White Sox fell to a season-low 12 games under .500.

Martinez (3-1) hit a 407-foot shot off Lucas Giolito (1-4) with two outs in the sixth to break a scoreless tie. He proceeded to take his time in a slow, methodical home run trot.

“The way he hit that ball, he didn’t have to run,” Cardinals first baseman Jose Martinez said. “He wanted to enjoy it. Good for him.”

The home run came in Martinez’s 205th career at-bat.

“Been waiting a long time for this,” Carlos Martinez said. “It felt good.”

He starred on the mound, too, allowing one run on five hits over 7 1/3 innings. He struck out five and walked two. The Cardinals have won each of his last six starts.

“You couldn’t ask for any more than what he did today,” St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. “His change-up was a wipeout pitch and he just got progressively better.”

Martinez fanned three consecutive batters after giving up a leadoff double to Jose Abreu in the fourth. He also induced Daniel Palka to hit into an inning-ending double play in the seventh.

Giolito surrendered three runs on four hits over 6 1/3 innings. He struck out seven and walked two. He had walked 21 batters and struck out 11 over his first five starts, but turned in his best performance of the season.

“You give up a home run, whether it’s a pitcher or position player, you have to be able to just forget about it immediately — keep going, keep staying on track,” Giolito said. “I didn’t do that.”

Bud Norris picked up his sixth save in as many opportunities by retiring all four batters.

Fowler hit his 100th career home run in the seventh to push the lead to 3-0.

Yolmer Sanchez had an RBI single in the eighth. Abreu followed with a sacrifice fly to trim the deficit to 3-2.

“All in all, the guys kept battling,” Chicago manager Rick Renteria said. “I’m hopeful that’s going to be a key to our continued movement forward.”

Yadier Molina had two hits for the Cardinals.

NAME GAME

Martinez became the first Carlos Martinez to hit a home run in the majors since Jose Martinez’s dad, also named Carlos, hit one for the California Angels on June 6, 1995.

TRAINER’S ROOM

White Sox: RHP Danny Farquhar continues to show progress after suffering a brain aneurysm on April 21. He went for a couple of short walks with his wife Lexi on Tuesday.

INF Yoan Moncada left the game in the eighth inning with left hamstring tightness. He is listed as day to day.

Cardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright threw a bullpen session before Wednesday’s game. He has been on the disabled list since April 20 with right elbow inflammation.

“It went well,” Matheny said.

There is no timetable for his return.

UP NEXT

White Sox: RHP Reynaldo Lopez (0-2, 1.78) will start against RHP Jake Odorizzi (2-2, 3.94) in the first of a four-game set with the Twins on Thursday. Lopez has allowed two earned runs or fewer in all five starts. The matchup kicks off a six-game homestand for the White Sox

Cardinals: RHP Miles Mikolas (3-0, 3.27) takes on LHP Jose Quintana (3-1, 5.74) in the first of a three-game series against the Cubs on Friday. Mikolas leads the majors with a strikeout-walk ratio of 13.5-1.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Matt Carpenter homered to start a ninth-inning rally and Yadier Molina ended it with a single to drive in the winning run, lifting the St. Louis Cardinals to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night.

St. Louis snapped a three-game losing streak.

Carpenter tied it at 2 with a leadoff homer off White Sox closer Joakim Soria (0-1). It was Carpenter’s 100th career home run and his first since April 10.

With one out, Marcell Ozuna doubled off the right-field wall. Molina then singled to left field to score Ozuna.

Bud Norris (1-0) picked up his first win of the season with a perfect ninth.

The White Sox wasted a good start by James Shields, who pitched six strong innings after giving up a leadoff home run.

Tommy Pham hit a 3-2 fastball off him for a 454-foot home run into the left-field seats. It was his first leadoff homer in his career and the second this season for St. Louis.

Shields retired the next 15 batters before giving up a single to Kolten Wong in the sixth. He allowed just two hits. Shields, who has not won since opening day, struck out four and did not walk a batter.

The White Sox scored twice in the fourth to take the lead. Trayce Thompson and Adam Engel drew one-out walks. After Shields struck out, Yoan Moncada doubled home both runners. His sinking fly ball got past Ozuna, who was trying for shoestring catch.

Michael Wacha pitched five innings in his second career appearance against the White Sox. He walked three and allowed hits.

The Cardinals ran themselves out of a scoring chance in the seventh.

Against reliever Bruce Rondon, St. Louis had a runner at third with one out. Ozuna hit a hard to grounder to Jose Abreu, who threw home to nail Carpenter trying to score.

ROSTER MOVE

The St. Louis sent right-hander reliever Mike Mayers to Triple-A Memphis and called up first baseman Luke Voit, a St. Louis native. The 27-year-old began this season on the disabled list with an oblique strain. He was batting .205 in 12 games at Memphis following his return. As a rookie in 2017, Voit batted .246 with four home runs and 18 RBI. Mayers is 0-0 with a 1.35 ERA and one save in four relief appearances covering 6 2/3 innings this season.

MILESTONES

Tuesday’s game was manager Mike Matheny’s 1,000th with the Cardinals. He is just the fourth manager to pilot the club in 1,000 or more regular-season games. Matheny succeeded Hall of Famer Tony LaRussa as skipper in 2012. In his first four seasons, the Cardinals reached postseason play. St. Louis reached the World Series in 2013. … Catcher Yadier Molina tied Hall of Famer Johnny Bench at 1,742 games for 16th in career games caught.

TRAINER’S ROOM

White Sox: RHP Danny Farquhar continues to show progress after his April 21 surgery for a brain aneurysm. He has taken a few short walks with his wife, Lexie. He is listed in neurologically stable condition ICU for next few weeks.

Cardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright (elbow inflammation) played catch before the game. “If all goes well and he feels good, he is scheduled to throw a bullpen tomorrow,” said John Mozeliak, the team president. “We just have to be smart about this.”

UP NEXT

White Sox: Lucas Giolito (1-3, 7.71 ERA) will be making his first career appearance against St. Louis. He snapped a three-game losing streak in his last start against Kansas City.

Cardinals: Carlos Martinez (2-1, 1.43 ERA) will be facing the White Sox for the first time. He has had consecutive no-decisions in his last two starts. The Cardinals have won each of his last five starts since opening day.

— Associated Press —

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Nick Kingham waited a long, long time to make it to a major league mound. When he finally got there, the moment was nearly perfect.

Kingham started out better than any pitcher in more than a half-century, taking a perfect game into the seventh inning of his big league debut and leading the Pittsburgh Pirates over the St. Louis Cardinals 5-0 Sunday.

Kingham retired the first 20 batters before Paul DeJong singled down the left-field line with two outs in the seventh.

“That’s how you plan it up, not to let anybody on,” Kingham said. “It’s incredible how it happened. Just kind of starting from the get-go, it went well. … It’s corny, but it took everybody. I’m really fortunate and really happy about it.”

The Elias Sports Bureau said no pitcher in the Expansion Era — since 1961 — had taken a perfect game bid so far in his debut. Wayne Simpson of the Reds in 1970 and Ken Cloude of the Mariners in 1997 each set down their first 16 batters.

“I was like, `You know what, it was a good run, man. It was fun while it lasted,” Kingham said.

Once a top Pirates prospect, Kingham’s path to the majors was interrupted by Tommy John surgery. The 26-year-old was 43-41 during nine seasons in the minors before getting called up from Triple-A Indianapolis before the game for a spot start.

Kingham joined Johnny Cueto in 2008 as the only pitchers in the last 100 years to give up one hit, strike out at least nine and walk none in his debut. Cueto started out his career with five perfect innings.

The crowd at PNC Park gave Kingham a big ovation after DeJong’s hit. Kingham then retired Marcell Ozuna on a grounder, and the fans stood and cheered while the rookie walked off the field and waved.

Kingham was taken out after seven innings. He fanned nine and threw 98 pitches, 72 for strikes.

More than the numbers, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle was pleased with Kingham’s poise.

“It was his next start. Watching him, it was just his next start,” Hurdle said. “It had to be more than that. He compartmentalized very well.”

Elias Diaz had three hits and drove in two runs as the Pirates won their fifth straight and completed a three-game sweep of the Cardinals.

Luke Weaver (2-2) allowed in 5 1/3 innings. Naturally, he noticed Kingham’s performance.

“He’s obviously having a good game, so you have to stay with him and put up the zeros just like you normally would,” Weaver said. “You just try to put that to the side and let him do what he’s doing, and focus on the task at hand. . It was just a well-pitched ballgame from him.”

Weaver pitched five scoreless inning before walking the bases loaded with one out in the sixth.

Diaz hit a two-run single that finished Weaver, and Colin Moran had an RBI single off Jordan Hicks.

HELLO ROOKIE

Pittsburgh selected Kingham in the fourth round of the 2010 draft out of Sierra Vista High School in Las Vegas. He underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2015, causing him to miss most of the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

In four starts with Indianapolis this season, Kingham was 2-1 with a 1.59 ERA.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said OF Dexter Fowler was not available to play after he fell over a wall along the right-field line in St. Louis’ 6-2 loss Saturday. He is expected to return Tuesday, Matheny said.

Pirates: LHP Enny Romero was put on the 10-day disabled list with left shoulder impingement. The Pirates planned to designate him for assignment to make room for Kingham on the 25-man roster. Instead, he was placed on the DL, a move retroactive to Thursday, when it was discovered he injured his pitching shoulder during his most recent outing.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Michael Wacha (4-1, 3.62) will attempt to extend his winning streak to five games when he takes the mound against the Chicago White Sox at Busch Stadium on Tuesday. Wacha has won four straight starts since last losing on March 31, when he allowed four runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings against the New York Mets.

Pirates: RHP Jameson Taillon (2-2, 4.91) will try to get back on track when he starts against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Monday. Taillon has surrendered a combined 12 runs in 5 1/3 innings over his past two starts.

— Associated Press —

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Francisco Cervelli homered in the second inning and delivered a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the sixth, helping the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-2 on Saturday night.

The Pirates scored twice in the sixth, twice in the seventh and once in the eighth while erasing a 2-1 deficit. They also rallied for a 6-5 victory over the Cardinals on Friday night.

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.

Cervelli got Pittsburgh on the board with his fourth homer in the second inning. He hit five all of last year.

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.

Flaherty was charged with three runs and four hits. The rookie right-hander struck out two and walked four.

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

Cardinals: Luke Weaver (2-1, 4.85 ERA) will start the series finale Sunday. Weaver has given up 10 runs over his last two starts after allowing four total in his first three outings of the season.

Pirates: RHP Nick Kingham is expected to be recalled from the minors for his major league debut. Kingham was 2-1 with a 1.59 ERA in four starts with Triple-A Indianapolis.

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PITTSBURGH (AP) — Starling Marte’s game-ending single in the 11th inning lifted the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 6-5 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night.

David Freese drew a one-out walk from rookie Jordan Hicks (1-1), advanced to second on a wild pitch, moved to third on Gregory Polanco’s groundout. Marte then delivered a liner into center field, giving the Pirates their third victory in four games.

Cardinals closer Greg Holland started the ninth inning with a 5-2 lead, but failed to retire any of the batters he faced as his ERA rose to 7.11 in nine appearances. He was signed to a $14-million, one-year contract on opening day after tying for the NL lead with 41 saves last season with the Colorado Rockies. It was his first blown save with the Cardinals.

Corey Dickerson doubled and scored when first baseman Jose Martinez misplayed Colin Moran’s groundball for an error. Jordy Mercer then doubled off the center-field fence to drive in a run. When Tommy Pham misplayed the ball for an error, pinch-runner Chad Kuhl scored the tying run and Mercer advanced to third.

Three relievers combined to keep Mercer stranded, sending the game to extra innings but the Cardinals wound up losing for just the third time in 13 games.

Francisco Cervelli had three of the Pirates’ 10 hits and Polanco hit his sixth home run but first since April 12.

George Kontos (2-2) pitched one scoreless inning.

The Cardinals’ Marcell Ozuna had two RBI singles among his three hits and Jedd Gyorko homered.

St. Louis starter Miles Mikolas was in line to raise his record to 4-0 after allowing two runs and six hits in seven innings with seven strikeouts and no walks before the Pirates rallied against Holland.

Pittsburgh starter Steven Brault gave up five runs (four earned) in 4 2/3 innings.

Polanco’s home run led off the sixth and Dickerson added a sacrifice fly later in the inning to cut the Cardinals’ lead to 5-2.

The Cardinals broke on top 5-0 as Gyorko’s leadoff home run keyed a three-run third inning that included an RBI double by Pham and a run-scoring single by Ozuna. Kolten Wong hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth and Ozuna singled in a run an inning later.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: LHP Ryan Sherriff (fractured right big toe) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis.

Pirates: RHP AJ Schugel (right shoulder discomfort) has pitched twice for Triple-A Indianapolis, giving up one run in 2 2/3 innings, since having his rehab assignment moved from Class A Bradenton.

KANG TO EXTENDED SPRING

Pirates INF Jung Ho Kang, who is on the restricted list, will begin working out Monday at extended spring training in Bradenton Florida. Kang has not played for the Pirates since 2016 as he was unable to obtain a work visa last year after being arrested in his native South Korea for DUI for a third time and receiving an eight-month suspended sentence.

BULLPEN SHUFFLE

The Cardinals optioned RHP John Gant to Memphis a day after he pitched three perfect innings to get the win in a 13-inning game with the New York Mets. RHP Mike Mayers was recalled from Memphis.

KINGHAM LIKELY TO DEBUT

Manager Clint Hurdle said the Pirates are planning to recall RHP Nick Kingham from Indianapolis to make a spot start Sunday. It would mark the major league debut for the 26-year-old.

TURN OF THE CENTURY

Phil Coyne, who retired as an usher just prior to opening day, was honored in a pre-game ceremony on his 100th birthday. Coyne began ushering in 1936 and the Pirates estimate he worked over 6,000 games at Forbes Field, Three Rivers Stadium and PNC Park.

UP NEXT

St. Louis will recall RHP Jack Flaherty (0-0, 1.80 ERA) from Memphis to start Saturday night against RHP Trevor Williams (3-1, 2.15). Flaherty pitched for the Cardinals on April 3 at Milwaukee and allowed one run in five innings of a no-decision. Williams is 1-2 with an 8.15 ERA against the Cardinals in six career games.

— Associated Press —