Pérez works 6 scoreless innings, Tellez splashes a homer into the river as Pirates top Cardinals 5-0

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Martín Pérez pitched six scoreless innings, Rowdy Tellez homered into the Allegheny River and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat St. Louis 5-0 on Wednesday to take two of three games from the Cardinals.

Pérez (2-5) allowed four hits, three in his final two innings, and walked five with two strikeouts. The 33-year-old left-hander entered with a 5.61 ERA after allowing 11 runs in 8 1/3 innings over his last two starts.

“I got confidence,” Pérez said. "It doesn't matter. Every outing I'm always going to trust my stuff. That happened today. I was able to compete and throw a lot of pitches in the strike zone."

Tellez chased Matthew Liberatore (2-3) at the start of the fourth inning by sending a fastball 447 feet into the river beyond the wall in right field, extending the Pirates' lead to five runs.

“It was a good day. It was a good win,” Tellez said. “Martín pitched his butt off. We needed that going into this road trip. It puts us in a good spot.”

Liberatore allowed five runs on four hits in three innings, walking three and striking out three.

The Pirates, who have won eight of their last 10 games, took two of three from the Phillies and Cardinals in their first two series after the All-Star break. They are third in the NL Central, one game behind second-place St. Louis.

“Very important. We get the best team in baseball and then we get the team that's ahead of us in the division," Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton said. “So, to go 4-2 on the homestand is off to a good start. ... We have to continue to play well, but very proud of how we responded coming out of the break.”

The Cardinals, 1/2 game ahead of the Padres for the third wild card, stranded 11 runners and slipped to 3-3 since coming out of the break.

Connor Joe capped a four-run second inning with a two-out, two-run double to left-center, a liner that center fielder Dylan Carlson failed to bring in on a dive. Joe, batting third, picked up his first RBIs since June 11.

Tellez opened the scoring with an RBI single to center. Liberatore walked Andrew McCutchen with the bases loaded to make it 2-0.

“'Libby' just wasn't sharp early,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “You look at the first 10 hitters, three-ball count in five out of 10. Walked three, hit one. Settled in after that.”

Pedro Pagés and Masyn Winn each hit a two-out single before Alec Burleson walked for St. Louis in the fifth inning. Pérez got Willson Contreras to ground to third, leaving the bases loaded.

Contreras flew out to right in the seventh, ending the inning with runners on second and third.

“We didn't come through with the big hit,” Marmol said. “Offensively, we just didn't do enough. ... It's been all year. We're battling through it. There's been some games that are better than others. This is one that didn't go our way.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Pirates: All-Star OF Bryan Reynolds was scratched from the lineup with back spasms and is considered day-to-day. He leads Pittsburgh with a .288 batting average, 18 home runs and 61 RBIs. ... LHP Bailey Falter (triceps) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday, allowing two runs on five hits with three strikeouts in three innings against Iowa.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Sonny Gray (10-6, 3.54 ERA) starts Friday, beginning a three-game home series against the Washington Nationals.

Pirates: RHP Luis Ortiz (5-2, 2.57) will take the mound in Arizona on Friday, opening a three-game series against the Diamondbacks.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Pittsburgh Pirates' Rowdy Tellez, left, is greeted by Michael A. Taylor after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Justin Berl)

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Matthew Liberatore delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Justin Berl)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Joshua Palacios hits a single during the second inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Justin Berl)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Connor Joe reacts at second base after hitting a two-run RBI double during the second inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Justin Berl)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Rowdy Tellez hits an RBI single during the second inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Justin Berl)

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Matthew Liberatore steps off the mound after allowing a bases loaded walk during the second inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Justin Berl)

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Martín Pérez delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Justin Berl)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Rowdy Tellez, right, is greeted by third base coach Mike Rabelo as he rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Justin Berl)

MIAMI (AP) — Otto López was a triple shy of the cycle, Connor Norby homered and drove in three runs, and the Miami Marlins snapped NL East-leading Philadelphia’s six-game winning streak with a 9-5 victory over the Phillies on Saturday.

Jonah Bride also homered, while Xavier Edwards and Nick Fortes had two hits each for the Marlins, who had 14 hits a day after losing 16-2 to the Phillies.

John McMillon (2-1) pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for the win.

Phillies starter Aaron Nola (12-7) was lifted after he allowed five runs and nine hits over 4 2/3 innings, walking two and striking out five. It was his shortest start since allowing eight runs and 11 hits in 3 1/3 innings against Boston on June 13.

Bride homered to lead off the fifth and put Miami ahead 5-3 and Jesús Sánchez added an RBI single in the sixth.

The Marlins padded their lead with a three-run seventh against former starter Taijuan Walker. López hit a solo homer over the center field wall in the inning and two runs scored on shortstop Trea Turner's throwing error.

Philadelphia's Kyle Schwarber hit a tying sacrifice fly in the third inning for his 93rd RBI of the season.

Norby hit a two-run homer in the first to put Miami ahead 2-1.

Marlins starter Darren McCaughan allowed three runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings. The right-hander struck out four.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Phillies: Manager Rob Thomson said catcher J.T. Realmuto has some swelling but will remain with the club as he recovers from a left knee contusion sustained Friday. The Phillies selected the contract of catcher Aramis Garcia from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and designated RHP Nick Nelson for assignment.

Marlins: Placed RHP Max Meyer (right shoulder bursitis) and RHP Calvin Faucher (right shoulder impingement) on the 15-day injured list and OF Derek Hill (right shoulder impingement) on the 10-day injured list. ... LHP Andrew Nardi (left elbow muscle) was transferred to the 60-day injured list.

UP NEXT

RHP Seth Johnson will make his major league debut when he starts the series finale for the Phillies on Sunday. The Marlins have not announced a starter but manager Skip Schumaker said RHP Edward Cabrera could get the nod when he cleared all tests after he withdrew from his scheduled start Friday because of migraine-like symptoms.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Darren McCaughan (68) aims a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Philadelphia Phillies' Bryson Stott (5) hits a single during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Philadelphia Phillies' Kyle Schwarber (12) slides into second base as Miami Marlins second baseman Otto Lopez (61) is late with the tag during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Miami Marlins' Connor Norby is congratulated by his teammates after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)