Yadier Molina started the scoring with a two-run single in the first and ended it with an RBI double in the ninth, lifting the St. Louis Cardinals to a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday.

Molina drove in the go-ahead run off Evan Meek (1-1) after the Pirates had rallied from a 3-1 deficit to tie it.

Pittsburgh pulled within 3-2 on Ryan Doumit's RBI double in the sixth and tied it when Garrett Jones scored on Ryan Franklin's wild pitch in the eighth.

But Pittsburgh's bullpen - which allowed only one run in eight innings in a three-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs earlier this week - couldn't get the Pirates into extra innings. Matt Holliday hit a one-out single, Joe Mather ran for Holliday and stole second, and Molina then doubled him home.

Franklin (2-0) stranded a runner at second in the ninth to pick up the win after his first blown save in seven chances this season.

Holliday and Molina had four hits apiece for the Cardinals, who snapped a three-game losing streak and stopped Pittsburgh's winning streak at three games.

Lastings Milledge had two hits and an RBI and Andrew McCutchen had three hits for the Pirates.