Apr 9, 2025 3 min read

By John Perrotto

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH — Joey Bart singled in the winning run with the bases loaded in the 13th inning to give the Pittsburgh Pirates a 2-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday, despite six hitless innings from Erick Fedde.

The Pirates loaded the bases against Chris Roycroft (0-2) with no outs as Alexander Canario and Bryan Reynolds drew walks. Andrew McCutchen hit into a force out at home plate, but Bart hit a drive to deep left field that bounced into the stands and scored automatic runner Isiah Kiner-Falefa.

The Cardinals took a no-hitter into the seventh inning before Endy Rodriguez ended it with a two-out single off Phil Maton.

Fedde was pulled after throwing 88 pitches, 51 for strikes. He walked four batters, but none of the baserunners got past first base. He had just two strikeouts.

Mitch Keller pitched 7 1/3 scoreless innings for the Pirates in a no-decision. He allowed four hits while striking out six and walking one.

Justin Lawrence (1-0) pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

Pittsburgh shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng made his major league debut and went 0 for 2 before being lifted for a pinch hitter.

Fedde understood

Fedde did not give up any hits, but his walks prevented him from throwing a no-hitter. Four walks drove up his pitch count to 88 and manager Oliver Marmol did not want Fedde to go any further.

Fedde had thrown 73 and 65 pitches in his first two starts of the season.

“(Marmol) explained to me that he just didn’t want to extend me, and I understood,” Fedde said. “The season is a marathon, right? It’s something that’s fun and exciting, and you want to chase a no-hitter as long as you can, but I get the decision. I’ve got to save some pitches if I want to make it all the way to the end of the season.”

All four of Fedde’s walks came leading off innings. Yet he held the Pirates scoreless, thanks in part to two double plays. He never allowed a runner past first base.

Fedde threw just 51 strikes and had two strikeouts.

“It’s not as great as I wanted it to be but it’s a great place to build from,” said Fedde, who entered the day with a 1-1 record and 7.00 ERA. “It was a big confidence booster, but I’ve still got to get a little better with command. Four leadoff walks aren’t something you’re going to get away with all the time, and I’m going to work hard to get better, but it was definitely a good day overall.”

Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker watched Fedde from the dugout before delivering a pinch-hit RBI single in the 12th inning. Walker was impressed.

“He was unbelievable,” Walker said. “The ball was really moving.”

Key moment

The Cardinals missed a chance to break the scoreless tie in the eighth inning.

Thomas Saggese walked with one out and Masyn Winn followed by drawing a walk off Keller. Caleb Ferguson relieved and retired Lars Nootbaar on a liner to center. Willson Contreras then hit a pop up in front of home plate. Bart, the catcher, and Rodriguez, the first baseman, collided and the ball rolled free. But third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes picked it up and tagged out Saggese as he tried to score.

Key stat

Keller became the fastest Pirates player to reach 700 career strikeouts in terms of innings pitched (178 1/3).

Up next

The Cardinals open a series at home against Philadelphia and the Pirates begin a series at Cincinnati on Friday.