Alec Burleson’s Walk-Off Homer Lifts St. Louis Cardinals Over Pittsburgh Pirates 7-6 in Thrilling 2025 Matchup

Monday, August 25th, 2025

Pittsburgh Pirates at St. Louis Cardinals: Game Recap – August 25, 2025

The St. Louis Cardinals secured a dramatic 7-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, thanks to a walk-off solo home run by Alec Burleson with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Burleson, who had four hits on the night, smashed an 87 mph slider to center field for his 16th homer of the season, sealing the win for the Cardinals at home.

This game-winner came off Pirates reliever Dennis Santana, who had not allowed a run since August 6, delivering 6 1/3 scoreless innings over his previous six outings before Monday night’s game.

Cardinals Rally in the Fifth Inning

St. Louis erupted for five runs in the fifth inning to take the lead. Willson Contreras tied the game with a two-run single and later scored on Nolan Gorman’s double off Pirates starter Andrew Heaney. Thomas Saggese added an RBI single, pushing the Cardinals ahead 6-4.

Pirates' Power Surge and Late Inning Drama

Pittsburgh showed their power early with back-to-back home runs from Bryan Reynolds and Spencer Horwitz in the third inning. Nick Gonzales chipped in with a sacrifice fly in the seventh, and Ronny Simon delivered a clutch RBI double in the ninth to tie the game off Cardinals reliever Riley O’Brien.

The Pirates had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the ninth, but Ronny Simon was thrown out trying to advance to third on a fielder’s choice. Bryan Reynolds followed with a strikeout to end the top of the inning.

Contreras and Marmol Ejected

Tensions flared in the seventh inning as Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras and manager Oliver Marmol were both ejected after disputing a called third strike.

Standout Performances

Alec Burleson’s night was one to remember, going 4-for-5 with the game-winning homer. Over his last 10 games, Burleson is hitting 17-for-43 with five extra-base hits and eight RBI, showcasing his hot bat in August.

On the Mound

Cardinals starter Michael McGreevy went six innings, allowing four runs on six hits. For the Pirates, Andrew Heaney allowed five runs during the pivotal fifth inning rally by St. Louis.

Up Next

The series continues on Tuesday night as the Pirates send right-hander Mitch Keller (5-12, 4.34 ERA) to the mound against Cardinals right-hander Andre Pallante (6-11, 5.17 ERA).

In summary

The St. Louis Cardinals edged the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-6 in a thrilling matchup highlighted by Alec Burleson's walk-off home run in the ninth. Despite early home runs by the Pirates and late-inning heroics from both teams, the Cardinals capitalized on key hits and defensive plays to secure the win. The series remains hotly contested as both teams look to gain ground in their division.

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