The St. Louis Cardinals vs Pittsburgh Pirates match player stats provide a detailed look at how individual hitters and pitchers performed in their September 24, 2026 MLB meeting at PNC Park.
The Pirates came away with a narrow 2 to 1 victory, scoring the go ahead run in the eighth inning. Pittsburgh finished with seven hits, while St. Louis recorded five.
Alec Burleson gave the Cardinals an early lead with a solo home run against Paul Skenes in the first inning. Pittsburgh answered in the bottom half through an RBI single by Brandon Lowe, then took the lead in the eighth when Spencer Horwitz drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly.
Paul Skenes also recorded eight strikeouts over 6⅓ innings, while Mason Montgomery closed the game for his 17th save.
Quick Answer
In the September 24, 2026 matchup, the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 2 to 1. Alec Burleson homered for St. Louis, while Brandon Lowe and Spencer Horwitz produced Pittsburgh’s two RBIs. Paul Skenes struck out eight, and Luke Weaver earned the win in relief.
Why Are the Cardinals vs Pirates Player Stats Important?
A close baseball game can look very different when you examine the individual numbers.
The September 24 matchup was decided by only one run. The Cardinals scored first, but Pittsburgh tied the game in the first inning and eventually scored the deciding run in the eighth.
The final team totals were:
| Team | Runs | Hits | Errors |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis Cardinals | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 2 | 7 | 0 |
The Pirates also had five walks and stole two bases, while the Cardinals had two walks and struck out 13 times.
St. Louis Cardinals Player Stats
The Cardinals managed five hits and one run.
Cardinals Batting Stats
| Player | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JJ Wetherholt | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Iván Herrera | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Alec Burleson | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Jordan Walker | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Leo Bernal | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Brendan Donovan Torres | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| José Fermín | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| César Saggese | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Nathan Church | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Masyn Winn | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Wetherholt led St. Louis with two hits. Burleson provided the team’s only extra base hit and its only RBI with his first inning home run.
Alec Burleson’s Performance
Alec Burleson was responsible for the Cardinals’ only run.
He went 1 for 4 with one run, one home run, one RBI, and one strikeout. His solo homer came against Paul Skenes in the first inning.
The home run was particularly notable because Burleson had entered the game batting .400 against Skenes, although he had never previously homered against him.
JJ Wetherholt’s Performance
JJ Wetherholt was the Cardinals’ only player with multiple hits.
He finished 2 for 4, including a double, and did not strike out. His double came against Skenes and was his 15th of the season.
Pittsburgh Pirates Player Stats
Pittsburgh produced seven hits and scored twice.
Pirates Batting Stats
| Player | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oneil Cruz | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Konnor Griffin | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Brandon Lowe | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Ryan O’Hearn | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Nick Gonzales | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Jared Triolo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bryan Simon | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Billy Cook | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Spencer Horwitz | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jake Mangum | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Bryan Reynolds | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Henry Davis | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Oneil Cruz and Konnor Griffin each recorded two hits. Brandon Lowe drove in Pittsburgh’s first run, while Spencer Horwitz supplied the game winning RBI.
Oneil Cruz’s Performance
Oneil Cruz went 2 for 4 and recorded a double. He also scored one run and stole third base.
His extra base hit helped Pittsburgh create scoring opportunities, and his stolen base was his 29th of the season.
Brandon Lowe’s Performance
Brandon Lowe went 1 for 3 with a walk and one RBI.
His RBI single in the first inning brought Pittsburgh level after Burleson’s home run had put St. Louis ahead.
Lowe finished the game with two total bases because of his hit.
Spencer Horwitz’s Game Winning RBI
Spencer Horwitz did not record a hit, but he delivered the most important offensive contribution of the game.
His sacrifice fly in the eighth inning allowed Pittsburgh to take a 2 to 1 lead. That run ultimately decided the game.
Cardinals vs Pirates Pitching Stats
Pitching played a major role in the low scoring game.
Cardinals Pitching
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Leahy | 2.0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Tink Hence Hjerpe | 3.1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Michael Graceffo | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Brycen Mautz | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Ryne Stanek | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
The Cardinals pitching staff allowed seven hits and two runs while striking out eight Pirates hitters.
Pirates Pitching Stats
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Skenes | 6.1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
| Yerry Rodríguez Ramírez | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gregory Soto | 0.2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Luke Weaver | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Mason Montgomery | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Skenes delivered the longest outing for Pittsburgh, allowing three hits and one earned run while striking out eight over 6⅓ innings. Montgomery struck out all three batters he faced in the ninth inning to record the save.
Paul Skenes vs Cardinals
Paul Skenes was one of the central storylines of the matchup.
He finished with:
- 6⅓ innings
- 3 hits allowed
- 1 run allowed
- 1 earned run
- 2 walks
- 8 strikeouts
- 1 home run allowed
Skenes reached 200 strikeouts for the season during the game. MLB noted that he became the first Pirates starter with back to back 200 strikeout seasons since Bob Veale accomplished the feat from 1964 through 1966.
Despite his strong outing, Skenes did not receive the win because Pittsburgh took the lead after he left the game.
Luke Weaver and Mason Montgomery
Luke Weaver earned the victory after pitching one third of an inning without allowing a hit or run.
Mason Montgomery then worked the ninth inning and struck out three Cardinals hitters to earn his 17th save of the season.
How Did the Cardinals vs Pirates Game Unfold?
The game started with immediate offense.
Burleson hit a solo home run in the top of the first inning to give St. Louis a 1 to 0 advantage.
Pittsburgh responded in the bottom of the inning when Brandon Lowe hit an RBI single to score Oneil Cruz.
The score remained tied at 1 to 1 through the seventh inning.
In the eighth, Spencer Horwitz hit a sacrifice fly that scored the go ahead run. Pittsburgh’s bullpen then held the Cardinals scoreless in the ninth.
What Do the Player Stats Tell Us?
The box score shows how closely contested the game was.
The Cardinals actually received a strong pitching performance and got two hits from Wetherholt plus a home run from Burleson.
However, Pittsburgh collected seven hits compared with five for St. Louis and received five walks. The Pirates also avoided the two errors committed by the Cardinals.
The biggest difference came late in the game. Pittsburgh converted a scoring opportunity in the eighth inning, while St. Louis could not produce a tying run in the ninth.
Common Questions About Cardinals vs Pirates Player Stats
Who won the Cardinals vs Pirates game?
The Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 2 to 1 on September 24, 2026, at PNC Park.
Who hit a home run for the Cardinals?
Alec Burleson hit a solo home run in the first inning. It was his 24th home run of the season.
How many hits did the Cardinals have?
The Cardinals recorded five hits.
How many hits did the Pirates have?
The Pirates recorded seven hits.
How many strikeouts did Paul Skenes have?
Paul Skenes recorded eight strikeouts in 6⅓ innings.
Who had the game winning RBI?
Spencer Horwitz produced the game winning RBI with a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning.
Who earned the win?
Luke Weaver earned the win for Pittsburgh, improving to 4 and 1.
Who recorded the save?
Mason Montgomery recorded his 17th save of the season.
Remember This
For the September 24, 2026 Cardinals vs Pirates matchup, remember these key numbers:
Final score: Pirates 2, Cardinals 1
Cardinals hits: 5
Pirates hits: 7
Cardinals home run: Alec Burleson
Pirates winning RBI: Spencer Horwitz
Pirates starting pitcher: Paul Skenes
Skenes strikeouts: 8
Winning pitcher: Luke Weaver
Save: Mason Montgomery
Conclusion
The St. Louis Cardinals vs Pittsburgh Pirates match player stats show a tightly contested game decided by a single late run. St. Louis took an early lead through Alec Burleson’s home run, but Pittsburgh quickly tied the game and eventually moved ahead in the eighth inning on Spencer Horwitz’s sacrifice fly.
Individually, JJ Wetherholt led the Cardinals with two hits, while Oneil Cruz and Konnor Griffin each had two hits for Pittsburgh. Paul Skenes struck out eight in a strong start, and Mason Montgomery finished the game with three strikeouts in the ninth. The final box score was Pittsburgh 2, St. Louis 1.
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