ST. LOUIS (AP) — Just like his teammates, Jameson Taillon had been struggling after a strong start to the season. The promising young Pirates right-hander put it all back together Friday night. Taillon pitched three-hit ball over eight innings and Pittsburgh beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-0 on Friday night for its second win in its past seven games. Pittsburgh had lost three straight to St. Louis during a 3-10 stretch, mostly against NL Central opponents.

Taillon (3-4) hadn’t won since April 8, when he one-hit the Cincinnati Reds in a 5-0 win. He was nearly as good this time against St. Louis, striking out six and walking one to slim his ERA to 3.97. St. Louis has dropped three of five. Miles Mikolas (6-1) gave up two runs — one earned — in six innings. He allowed six hits, struck out two and walked one. This was his first loss since returning to the U.S. following a stint in the Japanese professional league.

The Cardinals’ Yadier Molina is scheduled to make rehab starts for Double-A Springfield today (Saturday) and Sunday. He expects to return to the Cardinals for their Tuesday game with Milwaukee. Molina suffered a pelvic injury with a traumatic hematoma on May 5 that required emergency surgery. Pirates RHP Chad Kuhl will face Cardinals RHP Luke Weaver today in the third game of a four-game set. Kuhl is looking for his first win since May 6. He lost his last outing, which followed three consecutive no decisions. Weaver has dropped three straight decisions and four of his past five.

Listen for the pre-game show at 12:20-p.m. here on KJAN, with the first pitch at 1:15.