Dontrelle Willis left the game after seven innings with a 2-1 lead then watched the St. Louis Cardinals put four runs on the scoreboard to take a 5-2 victory over the Florida Marlins.
Chris Duncan blasted a solo home run off reliever Sergio Mitre and he then walked Albert Pujols.
The Cards then caught a major break.
Pujols was helplessly picked off, but Mitre’s throw was wild and Pujols advanced to third base.
Rolen drove him home with a single to right field.
The Redbirds went on to add two more runs.
The suddenly resurgent Pittsburgh Pirates open a three-game series at Busch Stadium tonight, with the Redbirds now holding a five-game lead over the second-place Cincinnati Reds in the NL Central.
