The Cardinals hadn’t been shut out over three games in the same series since the final three games in 2015 in Atlanta.

The Pirates didn’t look like a last-place team during a 6-0 homestand in which they outscored the New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals by 43-4.

Left-handed pitcher Caleb Ferguson came in relief for Skenes and threw a scoreless sixth inning, before Fermín hit a blooper that Kiner-Falefa, Pirates second baseman Nick Gonzales nor center fielder Oneil Cruz could get to, resulting in a leadoff double in the top of the seventh inning.