The St. Louis Cardinals’ ability to manufacture narrow victories often depends on starting-pitching depth, and Andre Pallante provided exactly that in Wednesday’s 5-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Over six innings, Pallante allowed one run on five hits, giving the Cardinals a stable platform despite an offense that managed only five runs, one via Alec Burleson’s home run. For the Pirates, the loss exposed recurring difficulties in converting quality starts into wins: their starter matched Pallante’s innings count but surrendered four earned runs. The bullpen held the Cardinals scoreless over the final three frames, yet the early deficit proved insurmountable. The result leaves Pittsburgh searching for efficiency in high-leverage moments, while St. Louis continues to rely on pitchers like Pallante to bridge the gap between a modest lineup and a competitive record in the National League Central.