PITTSBURGH (AP) — Several players who have given the Pirates trouble for years helped the St. Louis Cardinals finish a rare sweep in Pittsburgh.

Mike Leake pitched seven effective innings, Matt Holliday homered and the Cardinals cruised to an 8-3 victory Sunday.

Randal Grichuk also homered for surging St. Louis, which has won five consecutive games and swept a series at PNC Park for the first time since August 2009. Holliday and Yadier Molina each had three hits.

“We just tried to come here and play the game the right way and tried to win games, and obviously we haven’t done this in a long time here, a sweep,” Molina said. “This is great; we played a great three games.”

Molina and Holliday have combined for 310 career hits against Pittsburgh. Leake won seven straight decisions versus the Pirates before losing his previous outing against them in April.

St. Louis entered the weekend having lost 22 of its past 31 in Pittsburgh, but won a series at PNC Park for the first time since 2012.

“At the end of the day, you’re still trying to pinpoint what they don’t hit the best,” said Leake, who pitched for the Cincinnati Reds before this season. “My fastball-cutter combination was working pretty well.”

Leake (5-4) won for the fifth time in six decisions, limiting the Pirates to two earned runs and six singles with no walks and six strikeouts. He also went 2 for 3 at the plate and scored during the Cardinals’ three-run third.

The slumping Pirates have lost a season-worst five straight and fell a season-high 12 games behind the first-place Cubs in the NL Central. The second-place Cardinals remained nine games back.

“We’ve seen some good things here but I think there’s more for us,” St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. “We need that well-rounded, all-those-pieces-together, and I think we’re seeing a little more of that, which should then set the template for what kind of team we can be. We haven’t done it enough yet for it to be identity. I think it’s our expectation, though, and this looks a little more like it.”

St. Louis scored four times in the sixth, capped by Grichuk’s solo homer to left field that ended the evening for Pirates starter Jonathon Niese. Grichuk snapped out of a 2-for-24 slump with the home run, his eighth.

Niese (6-3) lost for the first time since May 9. He was charged with season highs for runs (eight) and hits (11).

“A couple innings there snowballed on me,” Niese said. “And that was the difference.”

The left-hander had gone 3-1 with a 1.74 ERA over his past five starts and tossed seven scoreless innings in his previous outing.

“He was in the zone,” Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said, “but a lot of those times the execution was lacking. A lot of balls got up a little bit, more so than normal.”

David Freese and Starling Marte each had two hits and an RBI for the Pirates.

Holliday’s two-out solo homer in the first inning was his 11th of the season and second in two games.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: 2B Matt Carpenter (sore finger) missed his second consecutive game, but with an off day Monday he is expected to return to the lineup when St. Louis hosts Houston.

Pirates: Hurdle said the team was still awaiting test results before determining whether RHP Gerrit Cole will pitch Thursday. Cole left his start Friday because of right triceps tightness. … After leaving Saturday’s game when he aggravated a foot injury, catcher Chris Stewart did not start Sunday but was available off the bench.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: St. Louis begins a stretch in which it will play American League teams 12 of the next 15 games, beginning with two games Tuesday and Wednesday against the Astros. LHP Jaime Garcia (4-5, 3.89 ERA), who allowed a career-high 13 hits in a win Wednesday, starts Tuesday against Houston RHP Doug Fister (6-3, 3.34).

Pirates: For the first time in 32 days, the Pirates have a scheduled off day Monday. They will travel to New York to face the Mets from Tuesday through Thursday after taking two of three from the defending NL champions at PNC Park last week. Tuesday’s pitching matchup is Pittsburgh RHP Juan Nicasio (5-5, 5.34 ERA) vs. New York RHP Jacob deGrom (3-2, 2.80).

— Associated Press —

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Carlos Martinez came within two outs of his first career complete game and wasn’t upset after falling short.

If he keeps throwing like he did Saturday night, he’ll finish nine innings eventually.

Martinez notched his third consecutive win and Matt Holliday had a three-run homer among his three hits as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1.

The Cardinals won for the sixth time in seven games. Pittsburgh lost its fourth in a row.

Martinez (7-5) gave up one run and six hits in 8 1/3 innings before being lifted when the Pirates put runners on first and second with one out.

“I always want to go out there and do my work for all nine innings,” Martinez said. “That’s why I do all the extra work (between) starts, so I can stay strong and stay out there as long as possible.”

Trevor Rosenthal got two outs for his 12th save in 14 opportunities. He blew a save in the ninth inning Friday night in a game the Cardinals eventually won 9-3 in 12 innings.

“Crazy things happen to us in this park, so when they get it within that kind of distance, and Trevor can come in and shut the door, he’s going to,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said.

Matheny was impressed by Martinez, who threw 122 pitches in his 49th career start. He struck out five, walked three and induced three double-play grounders with a sinker that regularly reached 96 mph.

“It’s freakish to be able to throw that hard with that kind of movement,” Matheny said.

Before starting his winning streak, Martinez lost five straight starts.

“It really hasn’t any big changes,” Martinez said. “I’m just trying to stay focused and make small adjustments.”

Holliday’s 10th home run capped a four-run fifth inning against Francisco Liriano (4-6), who lost to the Cardinals for the just the third time in 10 decisions, and made it 4-0.

Holliday wanted to talk more about Martinez’s outing than his own hitting feats.

“He was still throwing 96 mph in the ninth inning with over 100 pitches and he has two plus breaking pitches,” Holliday said. “He’s got top two, top three stuff in the league. He’s got Cy Young-caliber stuff.”

Brandon Moss led off the fifth with a double, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored when Jedd Gyorko struck out but reached first base on Chris Stewart’s passed ball. Two outs later, Aledmys Diaz walked and Holliday followed with a drive to right-center field.

“(Liriano) was pitching really well and he gives us fits,” Holliday said. “For us to get him for a four spot, obviously with the way Carlos was pitching, we felt pretty good at that point.

Moss had his fifth straight multihit game.

Liriano was pitching on extra rest as he started for the first time since June 3 but still fell to 1-5 in his last six outings. The left-hander gave up four runs — three unearned — and four hits in six innings with eight strikeouts and three walks.

“He was good in a lot of different places,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “He repeated the delivery really well. Stayed on line throughout the delivery really well. Had a good mix of pitches throughout the game.”

Starling Marte had three hits and is 14 for 34 (.412) against the Cardinals this season.

Jhonny Peralta’s RBI single in the seventh extended the Cardinals’ lead to 5-0. The Pirates got their run in the bottom half when Gregory Polanco doubled and scored on Josh Harrison’s sacrifice fly.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Pirates: C Francisco Cervelli was put on the 15-day disabled list after undergoing surgery to repair a broken bone in his left hand. He is expected to be sidelined four to six weeks. Stewart is likely to get the bulk of the playing time behind the plate, though he left the game in the seventh inning with left ankle discomfort. … RHP Gerrit Cole (strained right triceps) underwent an MRI exam on Saturday after leaving Friday night in the third inning. The Pirates expect to receive the results Sunday.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Mike Leake (4-4, 4.22 ERA) is scheduled to start Sunday in the finale of the three-game series. He is 7-1 in his last 16 starts at Pittsburgh, dating to Sept. 11, 2012.

Pirates: LHP Jon Niese (6-2, 3.95) is 3-0 with a 1.74 ERA in his last five starts. He pitched seven shutout innings in his previous outing Tuesday to beat the New York Mets.

— Associated Press —

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pitcher Adam Wainwright, pinch-hitting because the Cardinals were out of position players, hit a two-run, two-out double to spark a six-run 12th inning as St. Louis beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-3 on Friday night.

Wainwright batted for reliever Jonathan Broxton after Matt Carpenter drew a two-out walk from Juan Nicasio and Pirates manager Clint Hurdle decided to intentionally walk Alemdys Diaz to bring up Broxton’s spot in the order.

Wainwright followed with a drive to the gap in left-center to score both runners. He is hitting .261 this season, going 6 for 23 with four doubles, one triple and one home run.

The Cardinals added four more runs in the inning. Matt Adams hit an RBI double to extend his hitting streak to 10 games and scored on Jhonny Peralta’s single before Brandon Moss’ two-run homer, his 14th, capped the outburst.

Broxton (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings as the Cardinals (33-28) won for the fifth time in six games, moved a season-high five games over .500 and snapped a second-place tie with the Pirates in the NL Central. St. Louis, though, trails the first-place Cubs by nine games.

Nicasio (5-5) was charged with six runs in one inning after beating the New York Mets in the second game of a doubleheader Tuesday when he allowed one run in five innings as a starter.

The Pirates scored a run off Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal in the bottom of the ninth to tie the score 3-3 when Starling Marte hit a leadoff triple and scored on Jordy Mercer’s one-out single.

The Cardinals went ahead 3-2 in the eighth inning on Carpenter’s three-run home run, his 10th, off Neftali Feliz. They had been blanked on two hits through the first seven innings.

Carpenter had two hits to run his hitting streak to seven games. Peralta and Moss also had two hits.

Marte had two hits for the Pirates, who scored their first two runs on Josh Harrison’s force out grounder in the third inning and John Jaso’s single in the fifth.

St. Louis’ Michael Wacha pitched well but remained winless in nine starts since April 23 when Rosenthal blew the save. Wacha’s personal losing streak remained at six games though he gave up two runs and three hits while striking out five and walking three.

Pirates starting pitcher Gerrit Cole left in the third inning with right triceps tightness. Catcher Francisco Cervelli left in the next inning with a sore left hand.

Cole was removed after giving up a leadoff single to Carpenter. He was relieved by AJ Schugel after not allowing a run in two-plus innings. Cole gave up two hits and one walk while walking three.

Schugel pitched four perfect innings and struck out four.

Cervelli left after swinging at the first pitch of his at-bat. Chris Stewart pinch-hit and remained in the game at catcher.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: Carpenter (jammed finger on right hand) returned after leaving a 3-2 win at Cincinnati on Thursday night in the eighth inning . RHP Lance Lynn, who underwent Tommy John elbow ligament transplant surgery in November, is expected to be examined by the team’s medical staff later this month in St. Louis and also throw in front of the coaching staff.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Carlos Martinez (6-5, 3.76 ERA) will start Saturday night in the second game of the three-game series. Martinez has won consecutive starts after losing his previous five.

Pirates: LHP Francisco Liriano (4-5, 5.25) is 7-2 with a 2.41 ERA against the Cardinals in 14 career starts.

— Associated Press —

CINCINNATI (AP) — A little vintage Adam Wainwright and another booed hit by Yadier Molina have the St. Louis Cardinals headed up.

Wainwright allowed only two hits in six innings, and Molina’s bases-loaded single snapped a tie in the eighth on Thursday night, sending the St. Louis Cardinals to a 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds 3-2 and yet another series win in their lopsided NL Central rivalry.

Molina’s third hit of the game led St. Louis to its fourth victory in five games. The Cardinals (32-28) are a season-high four games over .500, tied with the Pirates for second place, 10 games behind the Cubs.

St. Louis took two of three and has won 18 of its last 22 series with Cincinnati.

Wainwright’s slow start to the season was a part of the Cardinals’ struggles. He’s gotten his fastball back and has thrown five straight quality starts, with this one the best yet.

“It’s been building toward that,” Wainwright said. “That’s me out there. That’s exactly how I pitch.”

The Cardinal who gets booed the loudest in Cincinnati was in the middle of another comeback. His one-out single off Ross Ohlendorf (4-5) put St. Louis up 3-2 and drew jeers. Molina has been booed regularly at Great American Ball Park since a brawl that started between him and Brandon Phillips in 2010.

“Yadi’s been a Reds killer for years and years and years,” Wainwright said. “He’s the guy you want up there in the big spot.”

Molina also doubled and scored a run in the second inning, getting booed that time, too.

“Lately I’m feeling better,” said Molina, who came in batting .261.

Seung Hwan Oh (2-0) pitched one inning in relief of Wainwright, who was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the seventh with two runners aboard and the score tied. Trevor Rosenthal retired the side in the ninth for his 11th save in 12 chances.

Matt Carpenter scored twice, including the go-ahead run after opening the eighth inning with a double.

Wainwright had a rough first inning, giving up Jay Bruce’s RBI groundout and Adam Duvall’s run-scoring single. He didn’t allow another hit before leaving in the seventh. Wainwright fanned a season-high nine.

Wainwright hasn’t had much success against the Reds. Coming into the game, he was 8-10 in 24 games against Cincinnati with a 4.51 ERA, his highest against any team except the Mets.

Molina doubled off Brandon Finnegan and scored on Brandon Moss’ single in the second inning. The Cardinals tied it with the help of a balk in the sixth. Carpenter walked, moved up on Finnegan’s balk on a throw to first base, and then came around on Aledmys Diaz’s single.

“Big call,” Reds manager Bryan Price said of the balk. “It didn’t look different to me from the naked eye. I’m not saying it wasn’t a balk, but I didn’t see it.”

MATHENY FUMES

With Cincinnati’s Tyler Holt on first base in the bottom of the eighth and one out, Ivan DeJesus, Jr. hit a fly to shallow right. Stephen Piscotty dived and appeared to catch the ball, but got to his knees and threw to second for what would have been a forceout in case the umpires ruled he trapped the ball.

Umpire Sean Barber called it a catch, but a review determined Piscotty trapped the ball and Holt was awarded second base. Manager Mike Matheny contended Holt would have been forced out and shouldn’t be awarded the base.

“It’s a joke,” Matheny said. “I can’t think of any rational reason that would be true in that situation. It just didn’t make sense.”

STATS

It was Wainwright’s 300th appearance, matching Steve Kline for 16th on the Cardinals career list. … Matt Adams pinch-hit in the ninth and singled, extending his hitting streak to nine games. … Brandon Phillips’ first-inning double extended his hitting streak to 12 games, the longest on the Reds this season.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: Moss, who had two homers Wednesday night, started at 1B instead of Adams. Moss is 4 for 8 in his career off Finnegan with a homer.

Reds: CF Billy Hamilton was in the concussion protocol after being hit in the head while sliding into third base Wednesday night.

UP NEXT:

Cardinals: Michael Wacha (2-6) tries to snap the longest losing streak of his career in Pittsburgh. He’s lost six straight decisions since April 28. The last Cardinals pitcher to lose seven straight decisions was Kip Wells in 2007.

Reds: RHP Anthony DeSclafani makes his first start of the season after recovering from a strained oblique suffered during spring training. He’ll open a series against Oakland.

— Associated Press —

CINCINNATI (AP) — Brandon Moss homered in consecutive at-bats, Matt Adams and Jhonny Peralta added three-run drives and the St. Louis Cardinals rolled over the Cincinnati Reds 12-7 Wednesday night.

Moss broke a 4-4, fifth-inning with a two-run drive into the right-field seats, then liner a solo homer that barely cleared the right-field wall in the seventh for his eighth career multihomer game.

Every St. Louis starting position player had at least one hit, and Cardinals relievers retired their first 10 batters as St. Louis won for the third time in four games.

Matt Bowman (1-1) got his first major league win by striking out his only batter, Zack Cozart, for the final out of the fifth with the potential tying run on second base.

Cozart and Tucker Barnhart hit solo home runs for the Reds, who have lost two of three after a season-high four-game winning streak.

Alfredo Simon (2-6) walked a season-high five, allowing six runs and seven hits in five innings. St. Louis starter Jaime Garcia gave up five runs and a career-high 13 hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Cozart tied the score 4-4 in the fourth when he led off with his fourth homer in his last nine games. Barnhart cut the Cardinals’ lead to 6-5 with a two-out solo homer in the fifth after Billy Hamilton was thrown out by Garcia trying to steal third.

Peralta broke open the game in a four-run eighth with his first homer this season. Peralta was playing his second game after missing the Cardinals’ first 57 games following left thumb surgery.

TRAINING ROOM

Cardinals: C Brayan Pena, who hasn’t played this season while recovering from left knee surgery on April 5, caught four innings and went 0 for 2 with a groundout and a strikeout on Tuesday in the first game of an injury rehabilitation assignment with Double-A Springfield.

Reds: RHP Caleb Cotham, on the disabled list since May 31 with right shoulder inflammation, is working to eliminate the soreness, manager Bryan Price said. He has not been cleared to throw.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright (5-4) is to make make his 300th career appearance in his start on Thursday at Cincinnati. Wainwright allowed a season-high seven earned runs and 10 hits, including five doubles, over 5 1/3 innings in a 9-8 loss on April 16.

Reds: LHP Brandon Finnegan (2-4) is Cincinnati’s scheduled starter in Thursday’s series wrapup. Finnegan’s win over Washington last Friday was his first in nine starts since April 16.

— Associated Press —