Yadier Molina broke Puerto Rican countryman Iván Rodríguez’s record for the most putouts by a catcher in major league history, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1 on Tuesday.
Paul Goldschmidt hit a two-run homer and had three RBIs to lead the Cardinals to victory in the first game of a doubleheader. Matthew Liberatore pitched five scoreless innings.
The Cardinals reached four wins in five games. The Pirates lost their eighth straight game, their worst streak this season.
By getting 11 outs, catching the ball in 10 strikeouts and on a foul fly, Molina reached 14,870 in 18 seasons, surpassing “Pudge” Rodríguez’s 14,864.
Molina, 39, a 10-time All-Star, received a standing ovation from fans as he set the record, catching Ke’Bryan Hayes’ lob in the sixth inning.
He also starred in a crazy sequence that led to the Cardinals’ third run in the fourth inning. After reaching base on an error, Molina was removed on a swing by the pitcher to second to end the inning.
But after he and manager Oliver Mármol argued with the umpires, a balk was called from starter JT Brubaker.
This aroused the ire of Pirates manager Derek Shelton, who began arguing, and was ejected.
Nolan Gorman walked to load the bases and Goldschmidt followed up with a groundout to center infield. Molina scored during a shoot-out.
For the Pirates, the Venezuelans Tucupita Marcano 4-0 and Diego Castillo 2-0.
For the Cardinals, the Dominican Albert Pujols 3-1. Puerto Rican Molina 4-1 with a run scored. Panamanian Edmundo Sosa 4-0.