St. Louis, MO (Best E Casino) - Todd Wellemeyer tossed seven strong innings, and the St. Louis Cardinals survived a near-collapse in the ninth to down the Pittsburgh Pirates, 5-4, in the opener of a three-game set.

Wellemeyer (6-1) scattered six hits and allowed one run, fanning four and walking two. Albert Pujols went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer for the Cardinals, who have won three straight and six of eight.

Zach Duke (2-4) let up three runs -- two earned -- on five hits, fanning two and walking one to take the loss for Pittsburgh. Nate McLouth's solo homer in the first was the only offense until Jason Michael's pinch-hit three-run double in the ninth for the Pirates, who have dropped three of four.

The Cards led 5-1 entering the ninth, but Randy Flores and Ryan Franklin almost coughed up the lead. Pinch-hitter Jose Bautista singled to center with one out, but Raul Chavez fanned for the second out of the inning. Flores beaned Chris Gomez, bringing Franklin out of the bullpen.

Freddy Sanchez greeted Franklin with a single to center, loading the bases with two outs. Michaels then lifted a fly ball deep into the corner in left that Ryan Ludwick wasn't able to reach, and the ball fell in for a bases- clearing double.

Now with the tying run on second, Franklin snared a McLouth grounder hit right back at him, and threw to first to finally nail down his fifth save of the season.

McLouth gave the Bucs the early lead when he hit his 13th homer of the season, a solo shot to right with two outs in the first.

However, Pujols put the Cards on top with his bomb in the home half. Brendan Ryan led off with a single to center, and Pujols ripped a one-out homer to center, giving St. Louis a 2-1 edge.

Yadier Molina led off the second with a single to left, and Brian Barton tried to bunt him over to second. Duke threw the ball away, though, allowing Barton to head to second with Molina advancing to third. Wellemeyer then hit a fly to right, deep enough to score Molina, but Barton was thrown out trying to move up to third.

The Cards added two insurance runs in the seventh. Rick Ankiel tripled to left to lead off the inning, but pinch-hitter Adam Kennedy grounded out to first, and Ankiel couldn't score. Cesar Izturis laced a single to right, however, plating Ankiel for a 4-1 lead. Izturis stole second and Chavez's throw sailed into center, allowing Izturis to head to third.

Ryan grounded out, but Joe Mather came through with a two-out single to left, his first career hit, handing the Cards a 5-1 lead.

Game Notes

St. Louis optioned struggling outfielder Chris Duncan to Triple- A Memphis on Friday, and recalled Mather from Memphis. Duncan, who hit .259 with 21 home runs and 70 runs batted in over 127 games last season, is hitting .252 with just four homers and 16 RBI in 47 games this year. The 27-year-old has been in a slump over the past several weeks. He is just 2-for-14 at the plate over his last five games and hasn't homered since May 16...Mather, the Cardinals third round selection in the 2001 draft, was hitting .315 with 12 homers and 24 RBI in 28 games with Memphis, including 10 homers in May. Last year, the 6-foot-4, 195 pound outfielder combined to hit 31 home runs while splitting time between Memphis and Double-A Springfield.