Streak Snapped: Pirates Fall 5-1 to Cardinals as Offense Goes Quiet
Brandon Lowe launched his team-leading 34th home run, but the Pirates couldn't build on the early lead as St. Louis scored five unanswered runs and snapped Pittsburgh's five-game winning streak.
PITTSBURGH — For five straight games, the Pirates found a way.
They rallied.
They delivered late home runs.
They got dominant pitching.
They kept winning.
Wednesday night, that magic finally ran out.
Brandon Lowe gave Pittsburgh an early lead with another towering home run, but the Cardinals answered with five consecutive runs and left PNC Park with a 5-1 victory.
Cardinals 5. Pirates 1.
Pittsburgh's five-game winning streak is over.
The Pirates fall to 80-78.
And with four games remaining, the assignment is still sitting directly in front of them.
Win two.
Brandon Lowe Starts the Night With a Bang
For a moment, it looked like Pittsburgh might simply keep rolling.
After Lake Bachar worked through the first two innings without allowing a run, Brandon Lowe stepped to the plate to begin the bottom of the second.
Cardinals starter Matthew Liberatore left a pitch where Lowe could handle it.
Lowe crushed it.
The ball traveled an estimated 434 feet to right-center field, nearly reaching the Allegheny River.
Pirates 1. Cardinals 0.
It was Lowe's 34th home run of the season, extending his team lead and continuing an impressive September.
The Pirates had the first run.
PNC Park had some energy.
Then the third inning arrived.
The Game Changes in the Third
Pittsburgh used Bachar as an opener, and he did his job.
Bachar allowed just one hit over 1 2/3 scoreless innings while striking out two.
The Pirates then handed the game to Brandon Eisert.
That's where things unraveled.
St. Louis put runners on base and Alec Burleson tied the game with an RBI single to center.
Khristian Curtis entered trying to stop the damage.
Instead, a wild pitch allowed Iván Herrera to score.
Leo Bernal followed with an RBI single.
Just like that, a 1-0 Pirates lead became a 3-1 Cardinals advantage.
Eisert's night lasted only two outs.
He was charged with three runs on two hits and a walk.
St. Louis Piles On
The Cardinals weren't finished.
José Fermín opened the fourth with a single.
Masyn Winn brought him home with a double to center.
4-1.
Then JJ Wetherholt singled to right, scoring Winn.
Cardinals 5. Pirates 1.
In the span of two innings, the Pirates went from leading the game to staring at a four-run deficit.
This time, there would be no comeback.
Liberatore Shuts the Door
Pittsburgh had reason to believe Wednesday could be an opportunity offensively.
Matthew Liberatore entered the game with a 5.36 ERA and hadn't won a start since July 11.
He had gone 11 consecutive starts without a victory.
The Pirates couldn't take advantage.
After Lowe's homer in the second, Liberatore kept Pittsburgh from producing another run.
He worked 5 2/3 innings, allowing six hits and one run.
He struck out six.
He didn't walk anybody.
And after Liberatore left?
Pittsburgh didn't record another hit.
St. Louis relievers Luis Gastelum, Ryne Stanek and Génesis Cabrera finished off a frustrating night for the Pirates offense.
O'Hearn Creates Opportunities
If there was another bright spot offensively, it belonged to Ryan O'Hearn.
O'Hearn doubled twice.
But neither extra-base hit turned into a run.
That became the story of the night.
Pittsburgh had six hits.
Lowe had two.
O'Hearn had two.
Jared Triolo and Nick Gonzales added one apiece.
But after Lowe's second-inning blast?
Nothing crossed the plate.
Give the Defense Some Credit
The score could have been worse.
Pittsburgh's defense turned three double plays, helping the pitching staff escape additional trouble.
Bryan Reynolds also made one of the defensive highlights of the night, laying out for a catch and helping turn a double play.
Jared Triolo made a difficult catch near the railing as well.
The defense did what it could.
The problem was simple.
Five runs were already too many on a night when the offense produced one.
Steel Tahn Sports Player of the Game
Brandon Lowe
2-for-4 | HR | RBI | 34th HR of the Season
There wasn't much offense to choose from Wednesday night, but Lowe continued his outstanding finish to the season.
His 434-foot solo homer gave Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead and accounted for the Pirates' only run.
Lowe now has 34 home runs and 94 RBI, continuing to provide the legitimate middle-of-the-order power Pittsburgh desperately needed this season.
Turning Point
St. Louis' three-run third inning.
Pittsburgh had a 1-0 lead and Bachar had given the Pirates exactly what they needed from an opener. But the Cardinals immediately attacked the bullpen, scoring three times in the third and completely changing the direction of the game.
The Streak Is Over
Five straight wins.
That matched Pittsburgh's longest winning streak of the season.
It started with a 7-4 win over Milwaukee.
Then came a sweep of Kansas City.
Then Jared Jones dominated St. Louis on Tuesday.
Wednesday finally brought the run to an end.
But one loss doesn't erase what Pittsburgh accomplished over those five games.
The Pirates went from below .500 to three games above it.
They gave themselves a legitimate opportunity to finish with a winning record.
And most importantly?
That opportunity is still there.
80-78
That's the number that matters now.
80-78.
Four games remain.
Pittsburgh needs to win two.
That's it.
A 2-2 finish gets the Pirates to 82-80.
That would secure their first winning season since 2018.
A 1-3 finish?
81-81.
Anything worse?
Another losing season.
Split the final four and finish the job.
And Look Who Gets the Ball Next
If you're looking for a reason to forget Wednesday quickly, here's one.
Paul Skenes.
Pittsburgh's ace is scheduled to take the mound Thursday afternoon in the final home game of the 2026 season.
Skenes enters at 10-11 with a 3.91 ERA.
St. Louis will counter with right-hander Kyle Leahy, who enters at 10-5 with a 3.65 ERA.
The series is tied.
It's the final game at PNC Park this season.
And Pittsburgh has an opportunity to move within one victory of guaranteeing a winning record.
Not a bad time to hand the baseball to your ace.
Brandon Lowe Keeps Adding to His Season
Wednesday's loss shouldn't bury what Lowe continues to accomplish.
He now has 34 home runs.
He has 94 RBI.
And he continues to finish the season as one of Pittsburgh's hottest hitters.
Lowe has given the Pirates something their lineup has lacked for years: legitimate power in the middle of the order.
Even on a frustrating night, he gave Pittsburgh another glimpse of the impact that power can have.
The Bigger Picture
This wasn't the way Pittsburgh wanted the winning streak to end.
The Cardinals didn't need a dramatic ninth inning.
They didn't need a walk-off.
They simply took advantage of Pittsburgh's bullpen in the middle innings and then let Liberatore control the game.
It happens.
The important part is what comes next.
Pittsburgh spent the last week creating some margin for error.
Now that margin is a little smaller.
Four games remain.
One at PNC Park.
Three in Detroit.
Win two of them and 2018 finally stops being the answer to the question, "When was the last Pirates winning season?"
The Bottom Line
Brandon Lowe gave the Pirates the lead.
They couldn't hold it.
St. Louis scored three in the third.
Two more in the fourth.
And Pittsburgh's offense never answered.
Cardinals 5. Pirates 1.
Five-game winning streak over.
80-78.
Four games remain.
Two wins needed.
And Paul Skenes gets the baseball next.
Forget this one. Finish the job.
What's Next?
The Pirates close their 2026 home schedule Thursday afternoon against the Cardinals at PNC Park.
Paul Skenes is scheduled to start for Pittsburgh against St. Louis right-hander Kyle Leahy.
First pitch is scheduled for 12:35 p.m. ET.
After Thursday's home finale, the Pirates travel to Detroit for the final three games of the regular season.