Full Breakdown
Cardinals Overcome Near No-Hitter to Edge Pirates 4-2 in Ninth-Inning Rally
4/28/2026, 11:05:43 PM
Game Summary
April 27, 2026, at PNC Park, the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4–2. Pittsburgh led 2–0 on RBI singles by Ryan O'Hearn (1st) and Jake Mangum (2nd). Bullpen kept the lead until Alec Burleson’s seventh-inning single ended a no-hit bid. In the ninth, Pedro Pages and JJ Wetherholt homered to tie, and Jose Fermin’s two-run double secured the win.
Context & Stakes
The Pirates entered 16-12, third in the NL Central, and had not yet lost a division series (Sports Illustrated). The Cardinals, 14-13, trailed by 1½ games and sought to end a four-game skid.
Key Players
Pirates starters were Mason Montgomery (1-0, 3.97 ERA) and Wilber Dotel, who threw four perfect innings. Relievers Evan Sisk and Ryan Fernandez added two scoreless innings. Cardinals starter Dustin May (3-2, 5.84 ERA) earned the win; Ryan Fernandez pitched two clean innings. O'Hearn, Mangum, Nick Gonzales represented Pittsburgh; Wetherholt, Pages, Fermin, Burleson, Church represented St. Louis.
Data & Statistics
Before 9,787 fans, the final score was 4–2. Pittsburgh’s WHIP was 1.10 (fourth in MLB); St. Louis had scored only 19 runs, the league low. Hit totals differ: one source cites seven Pirates hits, another four, while the Cardinals had seven hits. Dotel struck out three; May struck out two.
Impact
The win cut the Cardinals’ deficit to 1½ games and kept their division-lead alive. Pittsburgh’s loss ended a near-no-hit effort but preserved its unbeaten division-series record, sustaining momentum.
Official Statements
Reports noted the Pirates’ “bullpen game” and that “the Pirates have not lost a division series yet.” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said the club “has lost four straight” and will “look for better fortune on the road,” adding “19 runs over the last seven days, last in MLB.”
Criticism
The Pirates’ offense was called “not exactly on fire,” with two runs. The Cardinals’ lineup was labeled a “dud” for the first eight innings, failing to score until the ninth.
Conflicting Reports
Reports differed: the Pirates had “just 7 hits,” or “two hits each from Gonzales and Mangum,” implying four hits. The exact total remains unresolved.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It sucks that you don't win one of these, but when you look at each game individually, there are a lot of positives,” — Oliver Marmol, St. Louis Cardinals manager
- “When you look at the series Church had, that's awesome,” — Oliver Marmol
- “And the way we played here, against the Brewers, to win a series here, we'll definitely take that going home. Get back home in front of our fans, looking to getting back to Pittsburgh and playing some good baseball against division opponents.” — Oliver Marmol
- “Welcome home, rookie, indeed.” — Article commentary on JJ Wetherholt’s ninth-inning home run
What’s Next
The Cardinals will start right-hander Kyle Leahy Tuesday night at PNC Park; the Pirates will rotate Braxton Ashcraft or another arm for the series finale.
