Bubba Chandler recorded his first major league victory with four scoreless innings as the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates narrowly defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 2-1.
Chandler, baseball’s top-rated pitching prospect, allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out three in his second MLB appearance. Tommy Pham drove in both runs for the Pirates, who have now won six of their last seven games.
Pirates starter Carmen Mlodzinski allowed one run on three hits and three walks over three innings, striking out four. Chandler took over in the fourth inning, followed by Isaac Mattson in the eighth, and Dennis Santana closed out the ninth for his 10th save.
Cardinals starter Sonny Gray (12-7) gave up two runs, one earned, on three hits in seven innings, striking out seven and walking two. St. Louis took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning when Masyn Winn singled, Thomas Saggese walked, and Pedro Pages drove in a run.
The Pirates regained the lead in the sixth inning. Isiah Kiner-Falefa led off with a double, Jared Triolo drew a walk, and Spencer Horwitz reached on an error to load the bases. After Kiner-Falefa was thrown out at home, Pham delivered a two-run single to center. Andrew McCutchen’s walk reloaded the bases, but Gray struck out Oneil Cruz to end the rally.
The Cardinals managed only two base runners over the final four innings, neither of whom advanced into scoring position, sealing the 2-1 Pirates win.
