Cardinals Shut Out by Pirates in a 5-0 Loss, Struggle to Find Offense at PNC Park

The St. Louis Cardinals, with a season record of 53-49, faced off against the Pittsburgh Pirates, who improved their record to 52-50 after the game. The final score stood at 5-0 in favor of the Pirates.

In this matchup at PNC Park, the Cardinals' offense struggled significantly against the Pirates' pitching staff. Despite managing six hits throughout the game, St. Louis failed to convert any of these opportunities into runs. The team's hitting statistics reflected a challenging day at the plate with an overall batting average of .207 and an on-base percentage (OBP) of .395 for the game. Notably, they left seventeen runners on base and were unable to capitalize during crucial moments, going hitless in five attempts with runners in scoring position.

The Cardinals' pitching contrasted sharply with their offensive output. The bullpen managed to hold its own for much of the game after taking over from starters who surrendered five earned runs across three innings pitched - marking an earned run average (ERA) of 15.00 for starters compared to a flawless ERA from relievers who allowed no additional runs over five innings pitched.

Key performances from individual players included Masyn Winn who showcased his potential both at bat and in fielding; he achieved a batting average of .500 and maintained a perfect fielding percentage alongside Nolan Arenado and several others who also kept errors at bay throughout the contest.

On the opposing side, Pittsburgh capitalized early with four runs in just one inning which set them up for victory despite accumulating fewer hits than St. Louis across nine innings played.

Looking ahead, fans can catch more action as The Cardinals are set to host Washington Nationals at Busch Stadium on July 26th at 8:15 PM EDT. This upcoming match will be broadcasted on MASN2 where supporters can tune in for live coverage as St. Louis looks forward to bouncing back from this setback.