MLB: St. Louis 1, Pittsburgh 0 (10 inn.)

ST. LOUIS, July 31 (UPI) -- Brendan Ryan drove in Ryan Ludwick from third with an infield single in the 10th inning Friday, giving the St. Louis Cardinals a 1-0 victory over Pittsburgh.

The game was delayed for more than two hours at the start by rain. Once they got started, Pittsburgh's Jeff Karstens and Chris Carpenter of the Cardinals engaged in a pitcher's duel.

Karstens came out after six innings, having allowed seven hits. Carpenter went eight innings, giving up five hits and striking out six.

Javier Lopez (2-2) took over for the Pirates to start the 10th and immediately gave up a double to Ludwick. Yadier Molina sacrificed Ludwick to third, from where he scored on Ryan's hit, handing Lopez the loss.

Ryan Franklin (6-1) got the win by throwing the final 1 1/3 innings.

The Cardinals moved past Cincinnati and took a half game lead over the second-place Reds in the National League Central.