Pedro Alvarez (.257 – 7 HR – 14 RBI) turnaround at the plate continued this afternoon. Alvarez belted a 2-run homer in top of the 6th giving the Pirates a 3-2 lead as Pittsburgh went on to a 6-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday afternoon. Alvarez was 2-4 in the win with HR, 2 RBI, 2 runs, and now ranks 2nd in the National League and 1st among NL third baseman with 7 home runs.