Pittsburgh 6 – St. Louis 3: Bedard strikes out 11, Alvarez homers in victory, Tabata continues on the upswing

Win: Erik Bedard (2-4)

Loss: Jake Westbrook (3-2)

Erik Bedard (2-4, 2.65 ERA) struck out a season-high 11, including seven straight batters, and Pedro Alvarez (.257 – 7 HR – 14 RBI) hit a go-ahead home run as the Pittsburgh Pirates (11-14) beat the St. Louis Cardinals (16-9) 6-3 Thursday to avoid a three-game sweep.

Pirate pitchers combined for 17 strikeouts, a franchise high for a 9-inning game in the modern era (1900).

Bedard was pulled after five innings, allowing 5 hits, 2 runs, while striking out 11 and walking 2. According to Elias Sports Bureau, Bedard is the first Pirates pitcher to ever strikeout seven straight batters in one game.

Bedard left after a pitch count of 104, throwing 68 strikes and 14 first pitch strikes.

Clint Barmes (2 HR – 5 RBI) had a pair of RBI doubles for the Pirates, who completed a 3-4 trip and will have 18 of the next 25 at home to end May.

Jose Tabata (.244 – 1 HR – 5 RBI), a career .343 hitter against St. Louis, had three hits and a steal.

Jake Westbrook (3-2) lost to Pittsburgh for the second time in three starts, giving up four runs in 6 1/3 innings.

The Pirates begin a nine game home stand Friday night against the Cincinnati Reds.

3B Pedro Alvarez (.257 – 7 HR – 14 RBI) – Went 2-4 with HR, 2 RBI in the win and is hitting .487 with 3 home runs, 8 RBI and 8 runs scored in his last 6 games. Alvarez ranks 2nd in NL and 1st among NL third baseman with 7 home runs.  Alvarez leads the Pirates with 7 home runs, 14 RBI, 13 runs (tied-1st), .11 XBH, .614 SLG%, .912 OPS

P Erik Bedard (2-4, 2.65 ERA) – Had a season high 11 strikeouts in the win and has struck out 27 batters in his last three games and leads the NL with 37 strikeouts.

OF Jose Tabata (.244 – 1 HR – 5 RBI) – Had a three hit day and is hitting .359 with 1 HR, 5 RBI, 4 doubles and 8 runs scored in his last 9 games. A big turnaround from where he was just a few weeks ago.