PITTSBURGH -- The Cardinals-Pirates series opener on Thursday night at PNC Park entered a rain delay with the Bucs clinging to a 5-4 lead after five innings. The game is expected to restart at 10:15 p.m. ET.
The Pirates led, 5-2, after four innings. Then the rain intensified, seemingly affecting Jameson Taillon's control, and the Cardinals rallied. Matt Carpenter and Tommy Pham walked with one out in the fifth, then Paul DeJong singled in Carpenter. DeJong, slow out of the batter's box, was thrown out at second base. William Fowler made it a one-run game with a single to left.
Taillon recorded the final out, and Luke Weaver worked a quick bottom of the fifth. Shortly after 9 p.m. ET, the PNC Park grounds crew rolled out the tarp as the game entered a delay.
The Pirates built a five-run lead against Adam Wainwright on Josh Harrison's two-run homer in the first inning and three consecutive run-scoring singles with two outs in the third.
The Cardinals entered the night trailing the Cubs by two games in the National League Central standings. The fourth-place Pirates are five games behind the Cubs.