Joey Bart's 13th-inning, walk-off single clinches Pirates' 1st series win of the year

Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Apr 9, 2025

Published in Baseball

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PITTSBURGH — Wednesday afternoon’s game at PNC Park was a 13-inning marathon. Joey Bart ended it with a fly ball that seemed to stay in the air for an eternity.

Bart’s walk-off RBI single in the 13th inning lifted the Pirates to a 2-1 victory over the Cardinals in the finale of a three-game series. The Pirates didn’t get a hit until the seventh inning and didn’t score until the 12th but left with a win anyway.

The win was only possible because Pirates starter Mitch Keller was excellent, then the Pirates bullpen was similarly strong. Keller, coming off of giving up seven runs in 3 2/3 innings against the Yankees, pitched 7 1/3 scoreless innings against the Cardinals. He gave up just four hits, at one point retiring 15 batters in a row, and struck out six batters. The Pirates bullpen kept the Cardinals scoreless until the 12th, keeping automatic runners from scoring in three of four extra innings.

Keller’s strikeout of Cardinals catcher Pedro Pages in the sixth inning was the 700th of his major league career.

The game was in doubt for a long time despite Keller’s strong outing. Cardinals starter Erick Fedde was similarly effective. He struggled a bit with his command, walking four, but he held the Pirates hitless for six innings. Three of those four walks were eliminated by double plays, coming on two ground balls and a strikeout-caught stealing combo from Jack Suwinski and Tsung-Che Cheng, respectively.

The Pirates got their first hit in the seventh inning when first baseman Endy Rodriguez singled off of reliever Phil Maton with two outs. The Pirates had two runners on after Bart was hit by a pitch, but second baseman Adam Frazier lined out to end the threat.

The Cardinals nearly opened the scoring in the top of the eighth, when Keller gave up a walk and a single before he was pulled from the game. Reliever Caleb Ferguson induced a weak pop-up, but Bart and Rodriguez ran into each other, neither making the catch. Third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes alertly grabbed the ball in front of home plate and tagged out Cardinals baserunner Thomas Saggese feet away from scoring, avoiding catastrophe and keeping the game scoreless.

Left fielder Tommy Pham kept the game tied in the top of the 10th inning, throwing out automatic runner Michael Siani at the plate on a single to left field. Pham was playing shallow, and his perfect throw beat Siani by about 15 feet.

The Cardinals returned the favor in the bottom of the 11th. Bart singled to right field, and automatic runner Alexander Canario tried to score, but right fielder Lars Nootbaar threw him out easily.

Cheng made his major league debut and went 0 for 2. He briefly looked to have the Pirates’ first hit of the game in the sixth inning, but third baseman Nolan Arenado’s misplay was correctly ruled an error. Cheng was thrown out trying to steal second base then pinch hit for in the eighth inning.

It was over when ...

... Bart’s single sealed the game. The Pirates loaded the bases with no outs off reliever Chris Roycroft, who walked the first two batters he faced. Andrew McCutchen grounded out, sealing an 0-for-6 game, but Bart finally ended the contest.

On the mound

Ferguson relieved Keller, doing well to get out of a jam in the eighth inning and striking out the Cardinals’ Brendan Donovan to lead off the ninth. Righty Dennis Santana got two quick flyouts to finish the ninth inning, threw the Pham-aided scoreless 10th, then struck out Masyn Winn to start the 11th. Left-hander Ryan Borucki got out of the 11th without issue and got one out in the 12th before giving the ball to right-hander Justin Lawrence. Lawrence pitched 1 2/3 innings and struck out two.

At the plate

Fedde baffled Pirates hitters, throwing 38 sinkers and 25 cutters in his 88 pitches. He only struck out two but induced soft contact and kept the ball on the ground, creating two double plays. It was a strong rebound for the veteran, as he gave up six runs in less than four innings in his previous start against Boston.

Most valuable player

Keller was excellent, blanking the Cardinals and keeping the Pirates in the game despite their offensive struggles. While he earned a no decision, he was absolutely deserving of a win.

Up next

The Pirates are off Thursday before heading to Cincinnati for a three-game series against the Reds (5-7). Left-hander Bailey Falter (0-1, 8.10 ERA) is expected to throw Friday for Pittsburgh against right-hander Brady Singer (2-0, 2.25). Andrew Heaney and Carmen Mlodzinski are also expected to pitch in Cincinnati.

First pitch for Friday’s game will be at 6:40 p.m.