MLB: St. Louis 5, Pittsburgh 4

ST. LOUIS, Aug. 20 (UPI) -- The St. Louis Cardinals put down a Pittsburgh rally in the ninth Friday to escape with a 5-4 victory in the opener of a doubleheader.

The Cards' Danny Haren (2-2) pitched three-hit, one-run ball for 6 2/3 innings and St. Louis took a 5-1 lead into the ninth.

But, the Pirates came close to pulling it out when Bobby Hill hit a run-scoring double off Jason Isringhausen and Abraham Nunez drove in two more with a pinch-hit single.

Isringhausen struck out Jason Kendall and got Jack Wilson on a close play at first to end the game.

John Mabry homered for the Cards, who have won four of their last six games.