Jeff Roberson / AP

Rick Ankiel, right, is congratulated by Cardinals third-base coach Jose Oquendo after hitting his second home run of the game against the Pirates on Thursday.

“It was a matter of just not being aggressive enough early in the count,” Maroth said. “I made a lot of pitches that would have been good with two strikes, or when I was ahead in the count but early in the count you’ve got to make them put it in play.

Kelvin Jimenez (2-0) got one out for the win, throwing a called third strike past Jason Bay to end the second with the bases loaded.

Bullington gave up five runs and seven hits over three innings in his second big league outing. He received a $4 million bonus when he signed with the Pirates out of Ball State, then went 34-17 in three minor league seasons, his climb through the minors slowed by a shoulder injury that sidelined him for 2006.

He also singled in his first career plate appearance in the second and scored his first run later in the inning.

“My fastball was a little flat and my slider was a little loopy at times,” said Bullington, who made one relief appearance for Pittsburgh in September 2005. “They took advantage of it, that’s for sure.”

Slideshow   The Week in Sports Pictures A kayaker flips out, a racehorse eyes the Triple Crown and more. more photos

Davidson worked the sixth and allowed four runs — three earned — and four hits.

Aaron Miles and David Eckstein each had three hits and an RBI for the Cardinals, who split the four-game series. Jose Bautista had two hits and two RBIs for the Pirates.

Maroth escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first, getting Pearce on a called third strike. Bautista and Freddy Sanchez hit consecutive RBI singles in the second tie it at 2.

Notes: The start of the game was delayed 1 hour, 26 minutes because of rain, and there was a mandatory 30-minute delay before the game was called with no outs in the top of the ninth. Wednesday’s game began after a 49-minute rain delay. ... One of the biggest cheers of the day came when the crowd noticed on the jumbo scoreboard that the Dodgers had taken the lead in a four-run ninth against the Cubs in a 7-4 victory. “The crowd goes crazy and you’ve got to look up yourself,” Ankiel said. ... Miles is batting .476 (20-for-42) with six RBIs against the Pirates. ... The Cardinals’ previous seven-RBI game was by Scott Rolen on Sept. 15 last year at home against the Giants. ... Jack Wilson had two hits and was 11-for-16 in the series. He’s batting a major league-best .409 (36-for-88) since Aug. 1.

More news

Tom Szczerbowski / Getty Images

Who deserves some early awards?

DeMarco: David Wright's hot bat — he's hitting .405 — makes him the pick for NL MVP thus far. But that's just for starters in our feature.

Pujols homers, Angels rally past Mariners

SEATTLE (AP) - Pinch-hitter Howie Kendrick broke a tie in the top of the ninth inning with a two-run single off Seattle closer Brandon League, and the Los Angeles Angels rallied from a 4-0 deficit for a 6-4 win over the Mariners on Friday night.

Headlines

• Label

Pirates blank Cubs for 10th straight loss

Joyce, Rays slam Red Sox  |  HBT: Benches clear

Nats handle Braves, extend NL East lead

Rangers crush Jays behind Cruz's 8 RBI

Yankees homer past Athletics, 6-3

White Sox stay hot as Dunn hits 15th HR

Stanton 1st player to hit Marlins' sculpture

HBT: Hamilton homers for first time since May 12