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The St. Louis Cardinals still own a 2-0 lead over the Pittsburgh Pirates heading into the fifth inning in Game 5 of the National League Division Series on Wednesday.
Pirates starter Gerrit Cole has settled down after allowing a two-run homer to Cardinals third baseman David Freese in the second. Cole worked around singles from Matt Adams and Yadier Molina, assisted by a key strikeout of Freese and a solid play by Neil Walker, in a scoreless fourth an inning after a diving grab by left fielder Starling Marte helped keep St. Louis off the board in the third.
Cole has surrendered three hits and a walk while notching three punch-outs.
The Cardinals showed off some stellar defense of their own in the top of the fourth inning, when shortstop Pete Kozma laid out to grab a flare off the bat of Neil Walker and ranged deep into the hole to throw out Justin Morneau.
Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright has allowed one hit in four scoreless innings while walking a batter and striking out three.
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