The Cardinals defeated the Pirates last night in a game where the team scored the most runs they had ever scored at Busch Stadium III, winning by a final of 17-4.

Michael Wacha was given the ball to start for the Pirates against right hander Joe Musgrove. Wacha and the Cardinals actually started out with a deficit in this one as Pirates outfielder Gregory Polanco launched a solo homerun over the home bullpen in the top of the first. The Cardinals bit back in the second, scoring four on back to back doubles by Yadier Molina and Dexter Fowler, which was followed up with a single into centerfield by Paul Goldschmidt that scored Fowler from third. The Pirates got to Wacha again in the top of the following inning as Polanco struck again on a line drive double that scored Adam Frazier.

“The Cardinals looked really good last night, hopefully this is a turn around from the Cubs and Phillies series,” sophomore Greyson Manor said.

Following the Polanco double, the Cardinals bats took off. Six runs were scored in two innings as Fowler and Kolten Wong both drove in runs in the 3rd. The 4th saw four runs score, starting with an RBI walk for Jose Martinez, a Wong RBI double, a Molina RBI single, and a fielder’s choice RBI for Fowler. This put the score at 11-2 at the end of four innings. The Pirates rounded out their scoring in the 5th with Polanco getting another RBI double and then being brought in by Josh Bell who grounded out. The Cardinals scored four more in the bottom of the sixth off of Pirates pitcher Dovydas Neverauskas, as Marcell Ozuna and Paul Goldschmidt hit back to back doubles, and Matt Carpenter drove in a run with a single of his own. The Cardinals scored their 17th and final run in the 8th off of Montana DeRapau, who was making his MLB debut, as Ozuna grounded out to the shortstop Kevin Newman to score Carpenter.

“Hopefully the Cardinals can carry this momentum into the next few series and regain a lead in the central,” junior Zach Russell said.

The starter Wacha allowed all four runs to the Pirates, and the total could of gone up in the 6th inning, as he was pulled in a two on two out jam, but John Gant was brought in from the bullpen to hold it down, as he did successfully. Struggling righty Dominic Leone pitched two scoreless innings, which was followed by John Brebbia who worked the ninth, and shut the door down on the Pirates.

The two teams match up again for game two of four in this series tonight. Adam Wainwright will go to the hill against Pirates righty Trevor Williams at 7:15. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Midwest, and can be heard over radio on KMOX 1120.