St. Louis Cardinals rookie second baseman JJ Wetherholt hit a game-tying home run in the ninth inning at PNC Park, igniting a four-run rally for a 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The win snapped the Cardinals' four-game losing streak in the opener of a four-game series. Wetherholt, from the northern Pittsburgh suburb of Mars, Pennsylvania, played his first major league game in his hometown.
Pittsburgh-area native JJ Wetherholt grew up idolizing Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen and cheering for the home team. A former West Virginia Mountaineer, he competed in Backyard Brawls against Pitt at PNC Park during college. Monday marked his debut in Pittsburgh as a Cardinals player and St. Louis' top prospect. Wetherholt went 1-for-4 in the game, calling the experience special before first pitch. “Playing against the team you grew up rooting for will always hold a special place in your heart,” he said. “I feel like I know this park better than any other park. Just being here as a kid and playing here a little bit in college was super cool.” The Pirates' pitchers kept the Cardinals off base through 6 2/3 innings, flirting with a perfect game. Mason Montgomery and Justin Lawrence each threw one inning, followed by Wilber Dotel's four innings. Evan Sisk allowed Alec Burleson's infield single in the seventh, ending the bid after third baseman Nick Gonzales' backhand failed to get the out. Isaac Mattson relieved Sisk. Entering the ninth, St. Louis trailed 2-0. Pedro Pagés and Wetherholt smashed back-to-back homers off Dennis Santana to tie it. José Fermín followed with a two-run double to left field for the go-ahead runs.
