Duncan, Pineiro lift Cards

ST. LOUIS -- Chris Duncan hit a 3-run double to back Joel Pineiro, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-2 on Tuesday night.

Russell Branyan homered in his first start since being acquired from the Phillies four days earlier. Not known as a great fielder, he also made three nice plays at third base, each time on well-hit grounders by Josh Pearce. Rick Ankiel and Jim Edmonds had an RBI apiece in the first inning for the Cardinals, who have won five of six.

Matt Morris (8-9) struggled in his second start in St. Louis as a visiting player. Morris, whose 101 wins rank 10th on the Cardinals' career list, lasted 5 innings and gave up 5 runs and 5 hits.

Pineiro (4-2), who wears 35 like Morris used to, pitched 5¿ innings, allowing 2 runs and 8 hits. He quieted the Pirates, who had scored 31 runs in winning three in a row over the Cardinals.

Ryan Franklin got four outs for his first career save.

Nyjer Morgan and Jose Bautista each drove in a run in the third for the Pirates, who have lost six of seven. Jack Wilson singled twice, giving him 6 hits the last two games.

David Eckstein and Ankiel doubled to open the bottom of the first, and Ankiel eventually scored on Edmonds' sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead. The Pirates bunched 3 hits and a walk in the third, with Morgan getting a run-scoring groundout and Bautista hitting an RBI double to tie it at 2-2.