PITTSBURGH — The Cardinals finished the first month of their season in a style they wouldn’t mind spending the months ahead.
Oh, sure they could nitpick and asked for more power from the middle of the order or more innings from the starter. But as they spent April plumbing for a identify and waiting for some consistency to emerge, they ended it with a 7-3 victory against Pittsburgh at PNC Park that was every bit the sum of their crystallizing parts. The Cardinals (14-12) got key RBIs from cleanup hitter Nolan Arenado, add-on thump from pinch-hitter Matt Carpenter, a reassuringly competent outing from reliever Genesis Cabrera, and they stole outs when the Pirates offered.