PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A three-run eighth inning gave the Pittsburgh Pirates the lead and they held off a ninth inning threat to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-5 Monday night.

Trailing 4-3 in the eighth inning, the Pirates’ bats came alive.

Ryan Doumit’s one-out double to right field tied the game. Ryan Ludwick was brought into the game as a pinch hitter and was intentionally walked to give the Pirates runners at first and second.

Josh Harrison came into the game to pinch hit and struck out, which set the stage for Pedro Ciriaco to be the hero.

Ciriaco ripped a two-run double to right field to give the Pirates a 6-4 lead.

The lead almost disappeared in the ninth inning, but Joel Hanrahan was able to get out of the jam.

Daniel Descalso got things started with a leadoff single and advanced to second on a groundout by Yadier Molina.

Skip Schumaker followed with a single to move Descalso to third with one out.

Hanrahan unleashed a wild pitch to Nick Punto, which allowed Descalso to score to cut the lead to 6-5.

After Punto walked, Hanrahan struck out Corey Patterson to end the game. It was his 37th save of the season.

Brad Lincoln allowed four runs, three of them earned, on eight hits in 5 1-3 innings.

Kyle Lohse allowed three runs on eight hits while striking out three and walking one in six innings of work for the Cardinals.

The same two teams will square off again Tuesday night at 7:05 at PNC Park.

Chris Carpenter (9-9, 3.75 ERA) is scheduled to take on Jeff Karstens (9-8 3.32 ERA).

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