WATCH: CARDINALS EXTEND LEAD IN SERIES OPENER WITH GRAND SLAM
The St. Louis Cardinals are having a blast in the Steel City.
After splitting a four-game series with the Cincinnati Reds, the Cardinals traveled to Pittsburgh for a three-game series against the Pirates that began on Tuesday.
The team wasted no time getting runs on the board after struggling offensively over the weekend. St. Louis recorded two home runs against Pittsburgh Pirates ace Mitch Keller in the first four innings of the series opener including the first Cardinals Grand Slam of the season.
In the Top of the third inning, Cardinals outfielder Alec Burleson hit his 13th homer of the season driving in the first two runs of the game.
The lead was quickly extended in the next inning however as Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller ran into problems on the base paths. The top of the fourth began with a line drive single by Brendan Donovan, a catcher interference allowing Nolan Arenado to reach base, and a single by Matt Carpenter. Before Keller could blink, the Cardinals had the bases loaded with no outs in the inning.
And then this happened.
This was the first grand slam for the Cardinals this season and the 17th for Nolan Gorman, extending his team lead. The second baseman also recorded his 41st RBI.
Keller made it five innings before getting replaced by the Pirates bullpen. He allowed nine hits against Cardinals hitters.
The Cardinals will be in Pittsburgh until Thursday playing their NL Central rivals Pirates. St. Louis (43-40) currently is in second place in the division and holding the final wildcard spot for the playoffs.