Carlos Beltran and Lance Lynn Propel Cardinals Past A.J. Burnett and the Pirates

Carlos Beltran had a career day at the plate and Lance Lynn kept pace with Tampa Bay Rays starter James Shields for the league lead in wins on Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Beltran hammered Pirates starter A.J. Burnett for two three-run home runs and a RBI single in the first three innings. He added a single later in the game to give him four hits total.

The seven RBI represent a career high for Beltran.

Beltran entered the game in a 3-for-32 slump with just one double and three RBI over nine games, but it's probably safe to say that the slump is now over.

Burnett was chased after 2.2 innings after he allowed 12 runs on 12 hits. He was trailing 4-0 after throwing just six pitches—that's right, six.

Rookie Lance Lynn was spectacular again in place of Chris Carpenter, tossing 6.2 innings of two-run ball en route to his fifth win of the season. He is now 5-0.

Not much was expected of Lynn as a fill-in starter, but he has done nothing but impress in his five starts. His ERA now sits at 1.61, and he has struck out 30 batters in 33.2 innings.

Lynn's performance has likely earned him a spot in the rotation even when Carpenter returns, so Jake Westbrook could either move to the bullpen or become expendable.

The St. Louis Cardinals have now outscored their opponents by 65 runs after 24 games, the best run differential in the majors.