(Best E Casino) - The St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates play the rubber match of their three-game series this afternoon at PNC Park.

After beating the Pirates, 6-0, in the opener of this series on Friday, the Cardinals put up 11 runs on Saturday. That still was not enough, though, as Jason Michaels' two-run home run in the bottom of the 10th inning lifted Pittsburgh to a 12-11 win.

Troy Glaus crushed the third pitch he saw from Denny Bautista (3-2) over the fence in left to give the Cards a one-run lead in the 10th, but with Raul Chavez on first, Michaels belted his first career walk-off homer with a blast off of Chris Perez (2-1) in the home half.

Jason Bay hit two home runs totaling five RBI for the Pirates, who have won two of their last three contests. Pittsburgh also received a three-run homer from Nate McLouth and a solo shot from Adam LaRoche on the night.

Ryan Ludwick had a two-run homer and also finagled a triple for the Cardinals, who totaled 22 hits but still lost for the third time in four games.

Heading to the hill for the Pirates this afternoon will be right-hander Ian Snell, who has struggled mightily this season against the Cards. In three starts against St. Louis, Snell is 0-1 with a 9.64 ERA. For his career, he is 3-4 with a 4.88 ERA in 11 games (10 starts) versus the Cardinals.

Snell, who is 3-7 with a 5.84 ERA overall this season, had his first start back from the disabled list on Tuesday against Houston cut short on account of a couple of rain delays. He received a no-decision and allowed a run and four hits in 3 2/3 innings of his team's 4-3 win.

St. Louis will counter with righty Joel Pineiro, who is 3-4 with a 4.17 ERA. Pineiro picked up the win on Tuesday in Philadelphia, as he scattered five hits over 6 1/3 scoreless innings.

Pineiro did not factor in the decision the last time he faced the Pirates, but is 3-0 lifetime against them with a 2.81 ERA in four starts.

Pittsburgh has won six of its 11 matchups with the Cardinals this season, but has dropped nine of its last 13 at home to St. Louis.