Speaking to a group of reporters before Saturday's game, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny described the "prototypical Cardinal at bat."
"Just grinding, grinding, wear a defense and a pitching staff down by fowling off the tough pitches and waiting until a mistake happens and making them pay," Matheny said.
In Sunday's seventh inning, the Cardinals used that formula to blow the game open and take an 8-4 lead over the Pirates. They got a little help from the Pirates, too.
Facing Pittsburgh reliever Juan Nicasio, Tommy Pham and Stephen Piscotty both worked the count to 3-2 before drawing walks.