PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates know their margin for error is small every time they take the field and in every game they play in the loaded National League Central division. Their home opener showed just how small it is.
Pittsburgh built up a four-run lead and got back on top in the eighth inning, but shaky bullpen performances and spotty defense cost the Pirates as they lost to the Cardinals, 6-5, in 11 innings on Monday afternoon at PNC Park.
“You never have it won until you win it. It’s a good ballclub over there. They’re always going to battle,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “We didn’t play well enough to win today.”
The Bucs jumped out to a 4-0 lead against Adam Wainwright, and Chris Archer protected it as he struck out eight over five innings in his season debut. Starting pitching, expected to be the strength of this year’s Pirates club, was not the problem in their second loss of the season.
The Cardinals’ comeback began in the seventh inning. Right-hander Richard Rodriguez, a lock-down late-inning option a year ago, served up his second home run in as many appearances -- a two-run shot by Kolten Wong. Speedy center fielder Harrison Bader reached on an infield single, then Colin Moran booted a potential double-play grounder to put two runners on with nobody out.
“If I make that play, we probably win the game,” said Moran, who did his part offensively with a two-run double in the first inning and a go-ahead homer in the eighth. “Just make the play.”
In came lefty Francisco Liriano, who walked Matt Carpenter -- the only batter he faced -- and immediately exited the game. Setup man Keone Kela inherited the bases-loaded jam, only allowed one run (on a walk to Paul Goldschmidt) and escaped with no further damage by getting a flyout followed by two strikeouts.
With Kela no longer an option in the eighth, Hurdle turned to rookie Nick Burdi. The righty struck out two hitters after a leadoff single, but Tyler O’Neill tied the game with a double to left. Closer Felipe Vazquez cleaned up the inning, and Moran immediately put the Pirates back on top with a solo shot over the Clemente Wall off reliever Mike Mayers.
Moran, never one for emotional outbursts but apparently a fan of hitting big homers in Pittsburgh’s home openers, forcefully clapped his hands together as he trotted from first to second base.
“It’s kind of fun to play in front of a big crowd when they’re really into it,” he said. “That probably has a big influence on it.”
But that shot in the arm only sustained the Pirates for so long. Shortstop Erik Gonzalez misplayed a routine ground ball in the ninth, and Jose Martinez ripped a game-tying double to center off Vazquez. Infield defense was an issue for the Pirates last season, but they were hopeful a change of personnel -- with Jung Ho Kang at third, Adam Frazier at second and Gonzalez at short -- would improve that weakness.
“We just spent six weeks working on defense,” Hurdle said. “It didn’t go out there and play today, so we’ll continue to work.”
Lefty Steven Brault took over in extra innings, and the Cardinals loaded the bases with two outs in the 11th. DeJong singled, Brault plunked Matt Wieters -- the last man off St. Louis’ bench -- and Yadier Molina walked. Hurdle then called upon right-hander Nick Kingham, the last reliever available in Pittsburgh’s bullpen, to face Yairo Munoz.
Kingham and catcher Francisco Cervelli got crossed up, as Cervelli mishandled a 91-mph fastball that skipped to the backstop, which allowed DeJong to score the winning run and sent the Pirates home with a frustrating loss.
“You honestly self-evaluate. Did you do enough things to win the game?” Hurdle said. “Unfortunately, with the free 90s, we gave them too many opportunities late to extend innings and put baserunners on. That’s what cost us the game.”