MLB

Cole World: Pirates even series with Cardinals

ST. LOUIS — The stench A.J. Burnett left on the pitcher’s mound for the Pirates a day earlier not only disappeared Friday, but was replaced by the scent of roses.

Gerrit Cole ensured, if nothing else, the Pirates would arrive home with momentum on their side in this NL Division Series.

“There’s been a young, elite group of pitchers bust on the scene, and we’re fortunate to have one,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said after the rookie Cole fired two-hit ball over six innings in the Pirates’ 7-1 victory over the Cardinals in Game 2 of the NLDS at Busch Stadium.

“You don’t get playoff experience other than getting to the playoffs and meeting those challenges and having those opportunities.”

Cole, a former first-round draft pick by the Yankees who opted for UCLA, allowed one run over the six innings with five strikeouts and one walk. The Pirates’ offensive barrage was led by Pedro Alvarez’s 2-for-4 performance that included a two-run homer against Lance Lynn in the third inning.

The series, tied 1-1, shifts to PNC Park for Game 3 on Sunday, when Francisco Liriano will face the Cardinals’ Joe Kelly.

“You get up here and everything is new,” said Cole, who went 10-7 with a 3.22 ERA in 19 starts for the Pirates in the regular season. “Once you start to get your feet settled in, it allows you to kind of relax out there. You don’t overdo things as much.

“Today there were some big situations where the crowd was on my back, so it’s fight or flight. You have an option to make a pitch or give up a double.”

Lynn, who won 15 games for the Cardinals during the regular season, lasted only 4¹/₃ innings and allowed five earned runs on seven hits with three walks.

Pittsburgh’s bullpen logged six strong innings in Game 1 after Burnett was shelled for seven runs in two-plus frames, and remained strong on Friday. Tony Watson and Mark Melancon each worked a scoreless inning before Jason Grilli got the final three outs.

The Pirates grabbed a 5-0 lead and then added runs late. David Freese misplayed a pop up into a two-base error helping the Pirates get a run in the seventh, and Starling Marte hit a solo homer in the eighth to account for Pittsburgh’s final run.

Marlon Byrd’s RBI double in the fifth extended the Pirates’ lead to 4-0 before Lynn walked the next batter, Alvarez, and was removed from the game. Russell Martin followed with an RBI single against Seth Maness.

Alvarez’s two-run homer in the third put the Pirates ahead 3-0. It gave the Washington Heights native Alvarez at least one RBI in each of his three postseason games.

Cole’s RBI single in the second gave the Pirates their first run. Alvarez’s double with one out started the rally.

“The way the ball was carrying today, [Alvarez] put two balls in the air and it worked out well,” Lynn said. “I made four bad pitches and they all went for extra-base hits.”

And now come two games at rowdy PNC Park, which had an electric atmosphere for Tuesday’s wild-card game, when the Pirates eliminated the Reds.

“It’s two great ball clubs going at it and a great atmosphere up in Pittsburgh,” Alvarez said. “We’re looking forward to it. We’re ready to have some good ballgames in Pittsburgh.”