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Cardinals 7, Pirates 2

Sports

August 18th, 2011 by Jim Field

PITTSBURGH (AP) – Allen Craig homered twice to break out of a slump and lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 7-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night.  Craig went 4 for 5 with three RBIs and Yadier Molina added three hits for the Cardinals, who are trying to stay within shouting distance of front-running Milwaukee in the NL Central.  Craig was hitless in his last 11 at-bats before he connected for a two-run homer against Paul Maholm in the first. He added a solo shot in the seventh off Brad Lincoln.  Kyle Lohse (11-7) picked up his 99th career victory by pitching seven solid innings.  Maholm (6-14) dropped his fifth straight decision, giving up three runs – all in the first inning – and eight hits in five innings.