Brendan Ryan delivered an RBI single with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning, giving the St. Louis Cardinals a 1-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

After striking out the side in the ninth, Joel Hanrahan was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the top of the 10th, but Pittsburgh was unable to get on the board. Javier Lopez (2-2) came on to start the bottom half and was greeted by pinch-hitter Ryan Ludwick's leadoff double.

Yadier Molina advanced Ludwick to third with a sacrifice before Ryan singled in the game's lone run on a play that originally was ruled an error on Pirates second baseman Neil Walker.

Ryan Franklin (6-1) picked up the win after retiring all four batters he faced. The victory was just the third in eight games for the Cardinals, who moved one-half game ahead of Cincinnati in the National League Central.

Pittsburgh starter Jeff Karstens scattered seven hits over six innings, while Chris Carpenter limited the Pirates to five hits and three walks in eight frames.

Carpenter, who hasn't lost to Pittsburgh since June 29, 2004, had a chance to help his own cause in the fifth inning but struck out with a runner on second base and two out.

Jon Jay collected three hits for St. Louis, while Lastings Milledge went 2-for-4 for Pittsburgh, which has lost six of eight.