Kranick perfect; Bucs beat Cards, 7-2

Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty ImagesRookie Max Kranick’s big league debut Sunday could not have gone better – except for the weather.

Kranick tossed five perfect innings before the rains came and ended his start prematurely, but the Pittsburgh Pirates went on to claim a 7-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

Kranick was aided by third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes, who made what might be the defensive play of the year to help the Pirates take the four-game series 3-1.

Kranick, promoted from Triple-A Indianapolis, where he had made just four starts after being called up from Double-A Altoona, needed just 50 pitches – 36 of which went for strikes – to get through his five innings.…