BUCCOS roll credits on the Baseball Town USA and dem' REDBIRDS early and cruise behind ALVAREZ and LHP LIRIANO...look whose a half game out of 1st in the NL Central #AnotherManicMondayHardball Recap 2 #PIRATESbiz #NLCentralBiz

It's one of 162 but as of right now the St. Louis Cardinals just need that letter "W" in the Alphabet like its "Wheel of Fortune" to solve the puzzle. They limped into a five-piece with a side of "Let's play Two" versus the 2nd place Pirates and things are getting dicey. So what do the Pirates do to get the 'Burgh Faithful into the act...jump on Redbirds Starter Jake Westbrook in the 1st frame and that's all Pirate Starter Francisco Liriano needed.

The Buccos go four in the first inning and a huge crooked five in the seventh inning to get us Sports Fans Favorite Lady signing and she wasn't singing a rendition of "Take me out to the Ball Game". Behind that Pirates Offense was a 3-run blast by 2013 All-Star and Buccos Hot Corner Pedro Alvarez and he was followed by Pirates Short Stop Clint Barmes 2 for 4 with two ribbie night.

Back to Redbirds Starter Westbrook he was touched up for four runs in five innings on four hits and the big blow came in the first inning to Alvarez that three-run blast. The Buccos Liriano needed juts that three-run blast as he went seven innings and allowed one run on four hits walking two Redbirds and striking out eight. He moves to 11-4 in 2013 and Westbrook falls to 7-5.

The Central is separated now by a 1/ game lead by the Cards and the 3rd place Red Legs are just 4 1/2 back and that is what you call the best division in the NL.

They play a Twilight Double-Header on Tuesday and if you win two you double your impact in the "W" Column!