Mlodzinski delivers bounce-back relief outing in Pirates win

ST. LOUIS -- The Pirates are running out of time as September looms. Saturday was the first step of many needed in the right direction.

Pittsburgh defeated St. Louis, 6-2, backed by a three-run homer from Rafael Flores Jr. and 3 1/3 innings from Carmen Mlodzinski in relief. The Pirates now have a chance at their fourth series win in their last five tries with a victory Sunday at Busch Stadium.

The Bucs took control from the jump with a solo shot by Brandon Lowe on the second at-bat of the day. St. Louis answered with a solo homer by Joshua Baez in the third but four runs across the fourth and fifth innings for Pittsburgh built a sizable lead as Flores’ home run stretched the lead.

The Pirates scheduled bullpen game turned into Mlodzinski’s get-right outing. Since Mitch Keller’s season-ending shoulder injury on Aug. 2, Mlodzinski has posted a 12.71 ERA in 11 1/3 innings, moving out of a “starting spot” with Lake Bachar opening.

Mlodzinski entered with the bases loaded and two outs in the third for the ultimate leverage spot. Jordan Walker, who has 97 RBIs and 27 homers this season, came to the plate. Mlodzinski needed just one pitch, an 85.7 mph splitter, to retire Walker. The right-handed slugger hammered a ball to dead center field, right at Oneil Cruz, keeping the game tied 1-1.

After two clean innings, his performance in the sixth inning was deterred by three straight errors from Pittsburgh. He allowed an unearned run on Cruz’s dropped fly ball, but still held the Cardinals down to preserve the lead. Cruz’s error was the Pirates' 90th of the year, tying them with the Nationals for the most in baseball.

When Mlodzinski exited, the Pirates used their top bullpen arms to seal the deal. Gregory Soto and Luke Weaver each tossed a scoreless inning before Mason Montgomery closed it out in the ninth for the save, putting Pittsburgh back in the win column.