Paulino's Misplays Aid Cardinals' 6-4 Win Over Skidding Pirates

Tuesday, July 31st 2007, 9:51 pm

By: News On 6

PITTSBURGH (AP) _ Two misplays by Pirates catcher Ronny Paulino in the same at-bat helped St. Louis score the go-ahead run in the sixth inning, and the Cardinals won their fourth in a row by extending Pittsburgh's July slide with a 6-4 victory Tuesday night.

The Cardinals matched their season high by winning their fourth in a row as Adam Wainwright (10-8) limited the Pirates to two runs over six innings.

David Eckstein and Skip Schumaker hit consecutive sacrifice flies in a two-run seventh inning and the Cardinals won their 38th in 53 games in PNC Park _ easily the best record of any team since the ballpark opened in 2001.

The Pirates wasted another effective start by Paul Maholm (7-13) and two RBIs by Jack Wilson to lose their 14th in 16 games since the All-Star break. Maholm, the only Pirates pitcher to win since July 8, held St. Louis to two earned runs over six innings and probably should have gotten out of the sixth inning without allowing a run.

He retired the first two batters before Scott Rolen singled. Maholm got Ryan Ludwick to hit a routine popup behind the plate, but Paulino was slow to turn and look for the ball and didn't appear to see it until the moment it bounced off his glove for his 16th error in two seasons.

Ludwick promptly doubled to center, though the Pirates still appeared to have Rolen thrown out at the plate. But Paulino dropped shortstop Wilson's relay throw and Rolen scored. Paulino was not charged with an error for the dropped throw and Ludwick was credited with an RBI double.

Fittingly, Paulino led off the bottom of the sixth and was denied an apparent extra-base hit when left fielder Ludwick stretched out to make an excellent catch.

Aaron Miles singled and pinch-hitter Chris Duncan doubled to start the Cardinals' seventh against reliever Salomon Torres and Eckstein and Schumaker followed with sacrifice flies to make it 5-2.

Rolen doubled and scored on another sacrifice fly, by Yadier Molina, in the eighth. The Pirates got the run back as Ryan Doumit ended an 0-for-20 slide with a homer to right off Ryan Franklin. Molina also had an RBI single in the fourth.

Jason Isringhausen pitched the ninth inning for his 21st save in 23 opportunities.

Wilson had two RBI singles and Jason Bay added another for the Pirates, who lost their fourth in a row and seventh in eight games to fall a season's worst 20 games under .500. They must win 39 of their final 58 to dodge a 15th consecutive losing season, one short of the Phillies' major league record.

Wainwright, 2-1 in four starts against Pittsburgh this season and 4-1 in July, gave up eight hits, walked one and struck out three. Maholm allowed six hits.

Pirates center fielder Xavier Nady was lifted with a sore hamstring while running the bases in the fourth inning.

Notes: Pittsburgh was 7-17 in July. St. Louis was 15-11. ... Pirates 3B Jose Bautista (hand) may skip a scheduled minor league rehabilitation trip and rejoin the Pirates on Wednesday. ... Maholm is the only Pirates pitcher to win since Shane Youman beat the Cubs on July 8. ... St. Louis is 7-2 against the Pirates.