St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Michael Wacha carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Game 4 of the NLDS, but a solo home run by Pedro Alvarez broke it up and cut the Cardinals' lead to 2-1. The Pirates lead the best-of-five series, 2-1, so St. Louis needs to win this game to avoid elimination.
Cardinals vs. Pirates score: Wacha loses no-hitter, Cards still up 2-1
Pedro Alvarez homered to break up Michael Wacha’s no-hitter, but St. Louis still leads 2-1 in the eighth inning.
In the eighth inning, the 22-year-old Wacha struck out Marlon Byrd before serving up the long ball to Alvarez and then walking Russell Martin for the second time. Martin had been the only Pittsburgh hitter to reach base prior to the eighth, as he also drew a walk to lead off the sixth inning.
St. Louis' two runs came on a home run by Matt Holliday in the sixth.
Wacha was removed by manager Mike Matheny after walking Russell in the 8th and was relieved by right-hander Carlos Martinez. Wacha’s final line for the game: 7⅓ innings, one run, one hit, two talks, and nine strikeouts.
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