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ST. LOUIS -- Mike Leake started strong and fizzled out fast.The St. Louis Cardinals right-hander gave up all five runs in the fifth and sixth innings in a 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night.Unfortunately, its been the name of the game so far this year, Leake said. I think at some point it will not happen.Leake (5-7) has lost his last three outings with a 6.06 ERA but manager Mike Matheny saw the positives in an up-and-down year from the teams top free agent pickup. The previous start was strong, two earned runs allowed in seven innings against the Royals.I think Mike was about kind of what we hoped for -- he kept us in the game and weve got to make plays to help him, Matheny said. It comes down to the fact that we didnt get many big hits or many hits at all.Leake held the Pirates to two singles the first four innings before getting burned by two former Cardinals. Eighth-place hitter Eric Fryer had an RBI single in a two-run fifth that tied it and a two-run double in a three-run sixth, and David Freese had an RBI single in the sixth.Josh Harrison also had an RBI for Pittsburgh.Freese was missing location. Harrison, thats a good pitch. Fryer did a good job of putting the ball in play, Leake said. They werent terribly located balls, but not the best.The Cardinals released Fryer when backup catcher Brayan Pena came off the 15-day disabled list and the Pirates claimed him off waivers on Sunday. He batted .368 with St. Louis with five RBI in 38 at-bats behind seven-time All-Star Yadier Molina but Pena has a two-year, $5 million contract.The Cardinals got RBI from Jedd Gyorko and Matt Holliday, and Randal Grichuk was a minor bright spot with a pinch-hit single in the ninth. Grichuk was recalled from Triple-A Memphis after Brandon Moss was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left ankle.It feels great, Grichuk said. I wasnt down there too long but it felt like it was awhile.Juan Nicasio (7-6) worked two scoreless innings in relief of lefty Steven Brault, who allowed one earned run in four innings while throwing 82 pitches and adding a single in his debut. The 24-year-old Brault pitched in place of fellow rookie Jameson Taillon, placed on the DL on Sunday with shoulder fatigue.The Pirates have taken the first two games of a four-game set and are 7-4 in the season series, closing within one-half game of the second-place Cardinals in the NL Central.Mark Melancon finished for his 21st consecutive save and 25th in 26 chances.Pirates third baseman Jung Ho Kang, under investigation by Chicago police on an allegation of sexual assault, singled pinch-hitting to open the ninth.HOT BOXHarrison stayed alive in a rundown between third and home long enough for the hitter and runner to take two bases in the fifth. The Cardinals finally got him out on a play scored 3-2-5-3-6-4.TRAINERS ROOMPirates: RHP Ryan Vogelsong (facial fracture) threw 61 pitches in a four-inning simulated game. ... RHP Gerrit Cole (biceps) struck out six and allowed two hits for Triple-A Indianapolis to begin a rehab start.Cardinals: SS Jhonny Peralta was taken out after three innings with discomfort in his left thumb. The team said it was unrelated to the surgery for a torn thumb ligament in March.SLUMPINGMatt Adams, who replaced Peralta in the lineup, is in an 0-for-31 slump.UP NEXTPirates: Jeff Locke (8-5, 5.13) has won his last three starts with a 1.93 ERA and bested Oakland ace Sonny Gray his last time out.Cardinals: Jaime Garcia (6-6, 3.84) allowed one run in eight innings against the Brewers his last time out. He has a 0.57 ERA against Pittsburgh in six games, four starts.Anthony Davis Jersey . The Brazilian goalkeeper signed a loan deal with the Major League Soccer club on Friday as he looks to get playing time ahead of this summers World Cup in his home country. Vlade Divac Jersey . Batiste, who briefly signed with the Eskimos in 2006, has spent time with several NFL teams including the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins. http://www.lakersteamofficial.com/Kurt-Rambis-Lakers-Jersey/ . -- Peyton Manning will have all of his wide receivers available for the first time in a month when the Denver Broncos begin their playoff run Jan. James Worthy Jersey . The Olympic champion curler and TSN curling analyst immediately went online to look at the Halls long list of honoured members. Thats when the enormity of the honour sunk in. Derek Fisher Jersey .B. -- The Baie-Comeau Drakkar took over sole possession of first place atop the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League on Thursday with their sixth straight win.Captain Faf du Plessis says South Africa plan to keep AB de Villiers towards the top of a powerful batting order for their Twenty20 matches with England on Friday and Sunday.However, de Villiers may have a new opening partner in the form of Quinton de Kock, who was outstanding in the recent 3-2 ODI series win over England.Hashim Amla opened with De Villiers in India four months ago but he could drop down the order, or be left out altogether. Du Plessis himself will bat at number three in the first match at Newlands on Friday, as the Proteas fine-tune their line-up ahead of next months World Twenty20.AB has been batting up the top for the last three series, and I dont see that changing, said Du Plessis.Hes an x-factor player, and its definitely something we see as a wild card for the World Cup.Hes one of those players who can take a game away every day, and its something were optimistic about at this World Cup.However, key fast bowler Dale Styen will not play in either of the matches against England, although he has returned to fitness and bowled at practice on Thursday.Dale looks fit, said Du Plessis.But we said wed bring him into the mix for the games against Australia, just to give him some extrra time to get back.ddddddddddddSouth Africa have seven matches in all, including two warm-ups in India, before they begin their World Twenty20 campaign against England on March 18. Faf du Plessis captains the South Africa Twenty20 team I see these games just about giving most of the guys game time, said Du Plessis.You cant always guarantee everyone to play. Its just about trying to get the guys ready and feeling good before that first match starts in the World Cup.Its not always about the best thing for now, its about looking ahead.Watch the first Twenty20 international between South Africa and England live on Sky Sports 2 this Friday from 3.30pm. Or watch for £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV.Before then, do not miss South Africa Women take on England Women in their second T20 from 11.25am on Friday, also on Sky Sports 2.Also See:Morgan targeting two winsWATCH: Monday Night Cricket ' ' '