NLDS 2013, Cardinals vs. Pirates score: Pittsburgh maintains 2-0 lead

Francisco Liriano escaped from a bases-loaded jam in the top of the third inning, helping the Pittsburgh Pirates maintain their 2-0 lead over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Pete Kozma collected the first collected the Cardinals first hit of the game with a one-out double to left in the top of the third. Liriano fanned Joe Kelly after the double, but plunked Matt Carpenter on the shoulder to put a pair of runners on.

Carlos Beltran drew a two-out walk, fouling off a number of tough sliders to load the bases. Matt Holliday then lined a pitch to the warning track, but right at Marlon Byrd for the third out of the inning, keeping St. Louis off the scoreboard.

Andrew McCutchen slapped a one-out single against Kelly in the bottom of the third, but was erased from the basepath when Justin Morneau lined a ball right at Matt Adams, who made a diving tag on McCutchen after making the catch:

Liriano only need nine pitches to retire the side in the top of the fourth, a much needed quick inning for the starter; he tossed 53 pitches through the first three innings. Kelly worked his first perfect inning in the bottom of the fourth, striking out Pedro Alvarez and Russell Martin during the frame.

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