Pirates 5, Cardinals 0
PITTSBURGH -- A.J. Burnett reached one significant milestone Wednesday night but he missed out an even bigger one.
The Pittsburgh Pirates veteran right-hander recorded his 2,000th career strikeout and took a no-hitter into the seventh inning in a 5-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night at PNC Park.
Burnett lost his bid for a no-hitter with two outs in the seventh inning when Carlos Beltran hit a double that one-hopped the fence in right-center. Burnett had a perfect game until one out in the sixth when he hit Daniel Descalsco with a 2-2 pitch.
Ironically, the 15-year veteran Burnett got Beltran looking for his 2,000th strikeout to lead off the second inning. Burnett received a standing ovation from the crowd and catcher Russell Martin and the infielders briefly converged at the mound to shake his hand.
Burnett was lifted after the seventh inning, allowing only the one hit. He struck out eight and did not walk a batter.
Mark Melancon, Tony Watson and Jason Grilli completed the one-hitter.
Rookie Shelby Miller (2-1) pitched well in defeat, giving up two just runs in six innings. He allowed six hits and one walk with six strikeouts.
Miller retired 15 batters in a row at one point between Neil Walker's two-out double in the first inning and Andrew McCutchen's infield single with two outs in the sixth.
McCutchen scored on a single by Walker to extend the Pirates' lead to 2-0.
Pittsburgh added an unearned run in the seventh off Trevor Rosenthal on third baseman's David Freese's two-out throwing error then scored two more in the eighth when Gaby Sanchez hit a pinch RBI double and scored on Pedro Alvarez's single.
McCutchen and Walker had two hits apiece.
NOTES: Pittsburgh LHP Wandy Rodriguez will start Friday night against Atlanta after completing a 25-pitch bullpen session. Bothered by a strained left hamstring, Rodriguez has not pitched since April 8 when he left a game at Arizona in the third inning with the injury. ... St. Louis manager Mike Matheny gave 1B Allen Craig and SS Pete Kozma the night off and started Matt Adams and Descalso in their place. ... The Cardinals open a four-game series at Philadelphia on Thursday night with RHP Adam Wainwright (2-1, 2.05) facing LHP Cole Hamels (0-2, 7.56). ... Also on Thursday night, the Pirates being a four-game home series with Atlanta as LHP Jeff Locke (1-1, 4.09) pitches against RHP Julio Teheran (0-0, 7.36).
