![\"Bryan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Reynolds20231-1024x630.jpg\")
Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder Bryan Reynolds (10) plays against the Cincinnati Reds during an opening day baseball game in Cincinnati, Thursday, March 30, 2023. (AP Photo\/Jeff Dean)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPittsburgh Pirates left fielder Bryan Reynolds (10) plays against the Cincinnati Reds during an opening day baseball game in Cincinnati, Thursday, March 30, 2023. (AP Photo\/Jeff Dean)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
The Pirates\u2019 second-half offensive struggles continued in a 4-1 loss to the Cardinals at Busch Stadium on Friday night.<\/p>\n
Scoring Plays<\/p>\n
Bottom 3rd, 2-0 STL: Jimmy Crooks hit a two-run home run off Jared Jones (2-6) to give the Cardinals (68-68) a lead they would hold from start to end. <\/p>\n
Bottom 4th, 3-0 STL: Nathan Church tacked on another run with a sacrifice fly to center.<\/p>\n
Top 5th, 3-1 STL: The Pirates (65-71) got on the board when Jared Triolo singled home Jake Mangum off Quinn Matthews (1-2).<\/p>\n
Top 8th, 4-1 STL: St. Louis tacked on an insurance run on a Jacob Gonzalez throwing error at shortstop. Jordan Walker scored on the play. <\/p>\n
Key Moments<\/p>\n
Jimmy Crooks\u2019 two-run home run served as the backbreaker for the reeling Pirate offense. <\/p>\n
Player of the Game<\/p>\n
Cardinals starter Quinn Matthews earned his first-career win after holding the Pirates to one run on five hits with one walk and seven strikeouts in 5.2 innings. <\/p>\n
Stat to Know<\/p>\n
The Pirates have lost each of the last seven games Jared Jones has started. The last time Pittsburgh won a game started by Jones was on July 18 in the first game of a doubleheader in Cleveland. Jones is 0-5 during that time. <\/p>\n
Notable Performances<\/p>\n
Jared Jones: 4.2 innings, seven hits, three runs, one walk, six strikeouts, 86 pitchers\/58 strikes<\/p>\n
Jared Triolo: 2 for 3, one RBI<\/p>\n
Oneil Cruz: 2 for 4<\/p>\n
Noteworthy<\/p>\n
The Pirates committed three errors in the loss. <\/p>\n
The Pirates have combined to score 12 runs in seven games on their current road trip. <\/p>\n
The Pirates recalled LHP Evan Sisk<\/a> from Triple-A Indianapolis and optioned RHP Noah Murdock to Indianapolis. <\/p>\n Up Next<\/p>\n The Pirates have TBD listed for Saturday\u2019s pitched. RHP Kyle Leahy (10-4, 3.13 ERA) takes the mound for the Cardinals. First pitch: 2:15 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh\/93.7 The Fan.<\/p>\n Around the Network<\/p>\n Pittsburgh Baseball Now: Perrotto: Is This the End for Endy Rodriguez?<\/a><\/p>\n Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Penguins Thoughts: Watch Karlsson Trade Talk; More Years for Malkin<\/a><\/p>\n Steelers Now: Saunders\u2019 Steelers Takeaways: Omar Khan\u2019s Draft Class Finally Showed Up<\/a><\/p>\n Pittsburgh Sports Now: Heintschel One of Four Elected Pitt Captains for 2026 Season<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMentioned in this article:Pittsburgh Pirates<\/a><\/p>\n