PITTSBURGH - On an unusual night that saw their six pitchers give up 17 hits in a winning effort, the St. Louis Cardinals' best arm belonged to Jim Edmonds.
Albert Pujols and Bo Hart homered in the first and the Cardinals, relying again on homers and Edmonds' exceptional throwing, held on to beat the Pirates 6-4 Monday.
Edmonds twice threw out runners at the plate, including Abraham Nunez in the eighth with the potential go-ahead run on base. The Pirates had four consecutive singles in the eighth yet didn't score as relievers Pedro Borbon and Cal Eldred each retired a batter with the bases loaded.
"That's why he's got all that gold at home," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said, referring to Edmonds' five Gold Gloves. "He's the most accurate thrower (in the majors) ... his ball is so true. He charges the ball good, he's got that terrific carry on his throws and perfect rotation."
The Cardinals won despite being outhit 17-10 as the Pirates stranded 13. Jason Isringhausen pitched the ninth for his 12th save in 13 opportunities and third in as many nights.
Miguel Cairo and Scott Rolen homered for the Cardinals, who hit four in the first four innings off Kip Wells a night after hitting three in beating the Braves 3-2.
Pujols, who won that game with a homer in the eighth off John Smoltz, hit his second homer in as many at-bats in the first, two batters after Hart started the game with his fourth homer.
Pujols' 32nd homer was his ninth in 21 career games at PNC Park. He extended his hitting streak to 25 games, the longest by a Cardinal since Joe McEwing's 25-game streak in 1999.
Cairo, the former Devil Rays infielder, hit his third homer with one out in the second and Rolen hit his 23rd in the fourth, making it 4-0. After scoring seven consecutive runs via homers over two games, the Cardinals added a run in the sixth on Cairo's single and one in the seventh on Kerry Robinson's single to take a 6-1 lead.
Cardinals starter Dan Haren was helped repeatedly by his defense, giving up 10 hits but one run in 51/3 innings and earning his third victory in four decisions.
"When you get 17 hits and only score four runs, you can't help but be disappointed," Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon said.
ASTROS 3, CUBS 1: Wade Miller outpitched Kerry Wood and Jeff Kent hit a two-run double for visiting Houston.
Craig Biggio homered for the Astros, who maintained their two-game lead over St. Louis in the Central. The third-place Cubs fell 31/2 back.
EXPOS 3, ROCKIES 1: Vladimir Guerrero hit a two-run homer and Zach Day pitched six strong innings as Montreal, which returned from a 1-5 road trip, improved to 27-16 at Olympic Stadium.
