Cardinals recap: Yadi triple helps St. Louis win

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Get the feeling the St. Louis Cardinals are on a roll?

It sure looked like it Wednesday night at Busch Stadium.

In a highly-anticipated pitching matchup, Michael Wacha outlasted Gerrit Cole as a Yadier Molina triple proved to be the game winner in a 4-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

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The Cardinals (73-40 overall) improved their lead over Pittsburgh to seven games, and the fast-charging Chicago Cubs are 8 1/2 back following a dramatic 3-2, 10-inning win over the Milwaukee Brewers at the ballpark formerly known as Wrigley Field.

Wacha (14-4) got plenty of help in the third inning as a simple ground out by Jason Heyward turned into a comedy of errors for Pittsburgh. An error by Neil Walker sent Wacha and Kolten Wong home with runs to make it 2-0 Cardinals.

Andrew McCutchen‘s solo homer and an RBI triple in the next two innings helped tie the score at 2-2, but the Cardinals broke the game open again on Molina’s triple and a single by Stephen Piscotty.

It was Molina and Jhonny Peralta who led St. Louis’ nine-hit attack and helped the team to its second win of the series.

It was also big for Wacha, who struck out seven and allowed two earned runs in six innings of work. Cole lasted 5 1/3 innings, allowed three earned runs and fanned six. Cole dropped to 14-6 overall, but his ERA remains a robust 2.48.

What’s next?

The Cardinals can try for another home sweep on Thursday as Lance Lynn takes the hill. Lynn owns a 2.15 ERA at Busch this season and will face Francisco Liriano in the 7:15 p.m. finale.

Of note for the Pirates is a possible hand injury suffered by Starling Marte. Marte is a .381 hitter against Lynn but may not be able to play on Thursday.