PITTSBURGH -- Left fielder Matt Holliday is starting to heat up and that's great news for the Cardinals' offense.
Holliday had three hits including a three-run homer against the Pirates on Saturday night. He followed that with a homer off Pirates lefty Jonathon Niese in the first inning on Sunday afternoon and had an RBI single and another single in the Cards' 8-3 win to finish a three-game sweep.
"I've done all right," Holliday said. "I've been a little bit hot and cold so far, but I feel pretty good and I feel like I'm having good at-bats and helping the team, and that's the main goal."
Holliday is batting only .265 (he is a career .305 hitter), but he is on pace for 28 home runs, 31 doubles and 89 RBIs, which would be his best power production since 2012. Holliday has hit .333 on the road and has hit eight home runs since May 10 and nine game-winning RBIs.
Cardinals manager Matt Matheny likes what Holliday has brought to the table recently.
"Holliday looks like a different person," Matheny offered. "I don't know how much weight he's lost, but he's kept his muscle mass and has been able to get to a weight that he feels is right for him. He's trying to do things to take the stress off his body for durability and longevity in this game. Matt's made a real good adjustment."