Cardinals 2, Pirates 1, 10 innings

Pirates Lineup:
1. Gregory Polanco (L) RF
2. Josh Harrison (R) 3B
3. Andrew McCutchen (R) CF
4. Neil Walker (S) 2B
5. Starling Marte (R) LF
6. Pedro Alvarez (L) 1B
7. Francisco Cervelli (R) C
8. Jordy Mercer (R) SS
9. A.J. Burnett (R) P

an interesting start to a pretty big weekend.
AJ will certainly want to make a statement about how he can pitch effectively against the Cards in St. Louis.
Cutch will be trying to convince everyone - including himself that he can play through whatever is bothering him.
Bus winning 2 out of 3 make a nice statement about the team - losing 2 or 3 to the elite team in the NL is not the end of the world - but will make me most unhappy...

So what is the over/under on number of CBs the steelers take tonight - I am thinking 1....

Need to get AJ some runs. That is all.

Would have liked to have seen Kang in the starting lineup tonite..

Taking two of three would be a nice start to this season against the Cardinals.

Pedro has got to stop poaching those balls in the hole like that.

AJ not exactly fielding the position very well.

feels like another night of no run support for aj.

Somebody remind the guys that the day off was yesterday....

AJ helping the cause

Step up JHey

Harrison swung at so many pitches out of the strike zone that AB he probably should have walked twice.

That was hideous.

Harrison and McCutcheon come through again. Harrison needs benched for Rodriguez. How disgusting!!

That was just terrible. Had them on the ropes.

Some home charity from the umps in that cutch at bat

Man someone at the top of the lineup gotta come through there. At least put it in play. Brutal.

Cutch has not had a hit with bags full since 2012.

Once again, the bats go cold...but it's May already...

Can you believe this?? AJ thinks he doesn't have to tag him unbelievable!!

3 boneheaded plays on that 1. carpenter FOR turning too wide and an and Pedro for throwing up all over themselves.

Some really bad defense lately. Pedro being most of it.

Another great outing by AJ. His fielding could use some work ...

AJ deserves better...

Burnett's ERA is 1.45 in 5 starts and he's going to have no wins. That's a crime.

This probably the last guy I'd bring in here. I'd bring in Hughes and try to get two.

Right where the shortstop has been standing for 100 years.

What the hell was Harrison doing on that steal??

Worst shift ever

Clint managing this like tony Larussa. More pitchers this inning than outs. Don't blame him though.

Pedro running off on him, nice job running I to an out

Pedro has 5 errors in 20some games?

I love Hurdle but his use of the bullpen sometimes drives me nuts. Why Bastardo in that situation? I would rather have Caminero face another batter. Why pull Hughes because a shift failed. If he is going to bring in Watson why not earlier instead of Bastardo. If this game goes extra he has used half his bullpen and will be at a real disadvantage.

Another irritating thing Walk saying how you can tell Bastardo is becoming a LOOGY is because he has more games than innings pitched. Maybe someone should tell him Bastardo has more games than IP because he must face 3 batters to get 1 out.

Starting to hate the appeal. Bad idea to let them ask after 7. Just get on with it and end this lousy game.

1 for 24.

Mccutchen gets helped off by trainers so hurdle takes marte out for lambo? Marte is one of our most dangerous hitters right now

This offense is putrid....

At what point do we sit J Hay for S Rod?

Big fat guy beats us.

Ridiculous....

another disappointing loss in STL probably won't be the last this trip.

Continue to waste great pitching. Offensive offense. BOOOOOO!

Polanco looked horrible last AB. Hate to mess with his swing plane but needs shorter path to ball. Very looping.

Why did we need the SS and 3B ten feet apart? I don't care what the spray chart says that was stupid.

AJ pitches well again and the offense forgets to show up- bases loaded and 2 wasted outs with J-Hay pop out and Cutch strikes out looking. Need at least one run there! Pedro makes a horrific throw. It's a long season, but right now this team does not have a good vibe.

I'm not a shift basher but in no way do you give Adams half the field there vs a pitcher you can out in play easily. Mistake. Who knows what Adams does against straight up infield but he obviously went the other way there with confidence against that outside pitch.

Is pitching still 90% of the game when you keep wasting it?

5 games behind In the loss column. Just not getting a good vibe from this team

Now 3-8 against top 3 teams in the division as Bucs have taken over the Pens script so far with Cutch in the late season Malkin role and starters playing Fluery. Pedro's defense looking Scuderish and jHay offense looking Beau-esque. Jeff Branson doing a fine RT impression.

The shift against Reynolds lost that game. That was the most inane shift placement of all the shifts they've ever used. Made zero sense in THAT situation.

Stupid. I just knew as that went along that they'd find a way to not win that game.

Why is Lambo still on this roster? Down to .43 They should play Tom Petty - Free Falling as his on deck/walk up song.

Just not clutch enough in the big moments. Bases loaded, no outs and just caved. That to me is an indictment of why they can't go past an also ran. Last year same crap, Just not enough big hits in big moments. To many times they can't break a game open. Best OF in baseball, really? .

AJ should be undefeated right now. He's pitched great every game. His team fails to get any offense going. Getting real tired of watching this team struggle.

AJ is pitching like he's 28 and not 38. It's a shame the bats are still so anemic. Cutch is just not 100% and it all rolls down from there.

When are you all going to realize Clint Hurdle is a terrible manager!!!

I know it's early,but Harrison starting to worry me..hope last year wasn't a one year wonder deal..at least get one win in St.Louis before coming home