MLB: St. Louis 6, Pittsburgh 2

PITTSBURGH, April 24 (UPI) -- Joel Pineiro allowed one run over seven innings Thursday, lifting the St. Louis Cardinals to a 6-2 decision over Pittsburgh.

Pineiro (1-2) came into the game with an 8.10 ERA, but he limited the Pirates to four hits and struck out six. The Cardinals had lost four of their previous five games.

Jason Isringhausen recorded the final two outs for his eighth save.

Brian Barton had two hits and two RBI for the Cardinals. Yadier Molina hit safely three times with two doubles and a run scored.

Tom Gorzelanny (1-3) did not give up a hit until the fifth, but he walked seven and eventually gave up three runs to take the loss.

St. Louis faced a 1-0 deficit going into the fifth, but Gorzelanny walked the bases loaded and Barton delivered a two-run single -- the Cardinals' first hit of the game.

Albert Pujols added a run-scoring base hit in the inning.