Pittsburgh Pirates starting Pitcher Erik Bedard has been lights out on the mound in Thursday afternoon's game between the Pirates and the St. Louis Cardinals striking out 11 batters through five innings, at one point striking out seven in a row. Despite that, the punchless Pirates have not provided any run support and Cardinals have the lead through five innings, 2-1.
Bedard started off a bit shaky in the first inning allowing runs on back-to-back doubles by David Freese and Allen Craig gave the Cardinals a quick 2-0 lead. Bedard then buckled down and started pitching great. The lone run by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the game was an RBI double by Clint Barmes scored Pedro Alvarez in the top of the fourth inning.
The Pirates also are without centerfielder Andrew McCutchen, who left in the fourth inning due to an illness. He has been replaced by Nate McClouth.
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