ST. LOUIS (AP) — Matt Carpenter had four hits and scored the winning run on Matt Holliday’s single in the 12th inning, helping the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-5 on Thursday for their second extra-inning triumph over the NL Central leaders in three days.

The Cardinals took two of three in the series to pull within two games of the sagging Pirates, who have dropped five of six. St. Louis won 4-3 in 14 innings in the series opener on Tuesday night. Rookie Kevin Siegrist (1-1), St. Louis’ seventh pitcher, struck out two in a perfect 12th against the heart of the Pirates order.