Pirates 6, Cardinals 3: Pedro Alvarez hit a two-run homer to cap a hot series and Erik Bedard struck out a season-high 11 in five innings as visiting Pittsburgh salvaged the finale of the three-game series.

Neil Walker singled to lead off the sixth and Alvarez followed by belting the go-ahead blast over the left-center field fence off Jake Westbrook (3-2) to give the Pirates a 3-2 lead.

Alvarez went 6-for-11 in the series with two homers, five RBIs and six runs scored.

Pittsburgh pitchers combined for 17 strikeouts to cool down a St. Louis offense that scored 22 runs in the first two games. The loss was just the second in seven games for the Cardinals.

St. Louis brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth after Allen Craig’s run-scoring double before Matt Carpenter struck out to end it.

Bedard (2-4) allowed two runs, five hits and two walks before exiting.

The Pirates extended their lead to 4-2 on Alex Presley’s infield out in the top of the seventh. The Cardinals loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning before Juan Cruz retired Craig on a grounder.

Clint Barmes delivered run-scoring doubles in the fourth and eighth innings and Nate McLouth had a RBI single in the ninth for Pittsburgh. Jose Tabata had three hits for the Pirates.

Bedard was shaky in the opening inning as David Freese and Craig each had run-scoring doubles.

Westbrook allowed four runs and nine hits in 6 1/3 innings.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Pittsburgh center fielder Andrew McCutchen left after 3 1/2 innings with the stomach flu … Cardinals outfielder Carlos Beltran struck out as a pinch hitter in the eighth after hitting two homers and driving in a career-high seven runs on Wednesday … Bedard has struck out 20 in his last 10 innings … St. Louis outfielder Jon Jay went 0-for-2 with two walks as his 11-game hitting streak ended.