The Cardinals beat the Pirates 9-6 in extra innings on Tuesday night at Busch Stadium. Matthew Liberatore pitched 4.2 innings allowing 7 hits, 4 runs with 9 strikeouts, and 2 walks. The strikeouts were a career high for Liberatore. Liberatore’s previous career high 8 strikeouts happened on May 6, 2025, against the Pirates at Busch Stadium.

JJ Wetherholt (9), Nolan Gorman (6), Alec Burleson (7), Ivan Herrera (5) all hit home runs.

Ryne Stanek (9) and JoJo Romero (14) both picked-up holds.

The Pirates were able to tie the game (6-6) in the top of the 9th inning after Riley O’Brien blew his (4th) save.

The game ended up going to the bottom 10th inning. Wetherholt got a base hit, which moved ghost runner Victor Scott II to third. Herrera then hit a three-run walk off home run to give the Cardinals a 9-6 win.

George Soriano (2-0) picked up the win. The wins tie a career-high for Soriano from 2025.

The Cardinals are now 28-19. In extra innings, the Cardinals are now 7-1.

Game 2 is Wednesday night at 6:45 pm. The scheduled starting pitchers are Carmen Mlodzinski (3-3), 4.40 ERA, 45 innings, 43 strikeouts, 16 walks, and a whip of 1.44 vs Michael McGreevy (3-2), 2.10 ERA, 51.1 innings, 36 strikeouts, 11 walks, and a whip of 0.88.