The Pittsburgh Pirates erased a one-run deficit and edged the St. Louis Cardinals 2-1 in nine innings at PNC Park on Thursday, September 24, 2026. Paul Skenes delivered another commanding start — 6.1 innings, eight strikeouts, one earned run on three hits — and Mason Montgomery locked down the final frame with three strikeouts to earn the save. Luke Weaver picked up the win in relief. The victory was a division rivalry game decided by a single run, with Pittsburgh coming back after falling behind to complete the comeback.
Paul Skenes Dominates but Cardinals Strike First
Skenes was sharp from the first pitch. He held St. Louis to three hits and two walks across 6.1 innings, allowing only one earned run — a solo home run by Alec Burleson, who went 1-for-4 with that lone blast accounting for the Cardinals' only run of the night. Skenes punched out eight batters, giving Pittsburgh every chance to win the game on the back of his performance alone.
JJ Wetherholt was the Cardinals' most consistent offensive presence, going 2-for-4, but St. Louis couldn't string anything together beyond the Burleson shot. Pittsburgh's pitching staff held them scoreless the rest of the way.
Pittsburgh's Offense Claws Back Against St. Louis Bullpen
The Pirates offense got contributions from Oneil Cruz and Konnor Griffin, each going 2-for-4. The Cardinals turned to a parade of relievers after starter Kyle Leahy exited after two innings having allowed one earned run on three hits. Cooper Hjerpe followed with 3.1 innings but walked three batters, and Pittsburgh eventually pushed across the runs it needed. Ryne Stanek took the loss after issuing two walks in the ninth — a frame that proved costly as the Pirates completed the comeback.
Pittsburgh Bullpen Closes It Out
After Skenes departed, Yohan Ramírez, Gregory Soto, and Luke Weaver combined to bridge the gap to Mason Montgomery. Soto allowed two hits in 0.2 innings but surrendered no runs, and Weaver struck out one in a clean 0.1-inning appearance to earn the win. Montgomery then came on for the final inning and was untouchable — three strikeouts, no hits, no walks — to nail down the save and send PNC Park home satisfied.
Key Performances at a Glance
- Paul Skenes (SP, Win): 6.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K
- Mason Montgomery (RP, Save): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
- Luke Weaver (RP, Win): 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
- Oneil Cruz: 2-for-4
- Konnor Griffin: 2-for-4
- Alec Burleson (Cardinals): 1-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI
Turning Point: Cardinals Bullpen Walks Lead to Pittsburgh Comeback
The turning point came in the late innings when St. Louis's bullpen began to crack. Stanek walked two batters in his one inning of work, and Pittsburgh capitalized to push across the go-ahead run. That was all Montgomery needed. The Cardinals never got another crack at the lead.
What's Next for Pittsburgh
The Pirates continue their regular season schedule with additional games remaining in September 2026. Thursday's win keeps Pittsburgh in the mix during the final stretch of the regular season — every game against a division opponent carries weight this time of year, and beating St. Louis at PNC Park with Skenes on the mound and Montgomery closing is exactly the kind of result this club needs.
