PITTSBURGH, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Randall Simon's opposite-field, pinch single in the ninth inning Wednesday night gave Pittsburgh a 6-5 decision over St. Louis.
The winning hit ended a strategy duel between managers Lloyd McClendon and Tony La Russa.
A seesaw contest that featured another homer by Albert Pujols finally tilted in favor of the Pirates, who ended the Cardinals' four-game winning streak.
Lefthander Pedro Borbon began the ninth and got two quick outs before surrendering a double to Jason Kendall. La Russa opted to intentionally walk lefthanded slugger Brian Giles and the righthanded Reggie Sanders, who homered in the eighth.
That loaded the bases for Carlos Rivera. Instead of letting the righthanded rookie hit, McClendon went to Simon, a veteran lefthanded hitter.
Borbon (0-1) threw two strikes, then tried an outside breaking ball that Simon served into left field, giving Pittsburgh its first win in the four-game series.
