Nothing.

In the fifth, they had first and third with two out, and a run already home. Nothing more there.

In the sixth, they had the bases loaded with just one out.

Nothing the rest of the game -- not a hit, not a baserunner. Ten batters retired in a row that culminated with a 4-2 loss to the Cardinals in what became the Pirates' fourth consecutive defeat, their eighth in the past nine games since they cinched that above-.500 April (11-7) in San Diego and their ninth in the past 12 games.

"We got to keep grinding," Andy LaRoche, one of six Pirates to stand on second or third and stray no further. In all, the visitors stranded nine baserunners and went 3 for 12 with runners in scoring position -- all in the opening six innings. "We can't get down on ourselves. When you do that, it snowballs deeper and deeper."

The Pirates have slipped to 12-15, and it isn't just the Brewers beating them.

Last night, they couldn't overcome rookie starter Mitchell Boggs, who threw just six strikes in a three-walk second inning that saw the Pirates get Jason Jaramillo thrown out at home plate, which was well blocked by Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, hit into a double play and score only one run.

The Pirates got five hits and five walks against Boggs, who threw more balls than strikes in his 41/3 innings, but mustered just two runs.

"We had the guy on the ropes a couple of times and we weren't able to beat him," said Zach Duke (3-3), who allowed four runs, the second most in six starts this season, but still gave the Pirates a chance to win.

"It was a close game," manager John Russell said. "We get a hit here or there, it's a different story. We're getting guys out there [on base]. It's been kind of lingering the last five, six games for us. Struggling to score runs. Just can't get the big hit right now."

That hit didn't elude the Cardinals. When they got a runner aboard, they plated the guy.

Albert Pujols, with two out in the first inning, gave the Cardinals a 1-0 lead with his 11th home run of the season -- and 37th career, along with his 109th RBI, vs. the Pirates . "I'm happy that I kept him in the ballpark after that," Duke said.

The Pirates tied it the next inning on Morgan's single to score first-time Pirates starter Delwyn Young, who singled and moved to third on walks. It could've been a bigger inning, but Jaramillo was tagged out at home when Molina completely blocked the plate.

Two big Cardinals hits produced three runs in the fourth, the biggest being Chris Duncan's ball to the wall in right-center field, where Young couldn't quite snag it. Duncan's triple scored Pujols and Ludwick. And Khalil Greene's sacrifice fly to short center field brought Ludwick home for a 4-1 lead as Nate McLouth's throw went to the first base side of the plate.

The Pirates stranded seven baserunners in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.

To top off their offensive foibles, they loaded the bases in the sixth, with one out and Freddy Sanchez -- one of the National League's top hitters -- at the plate. He hit into a double play.

"We had plenty of opportunities to score. There's not one thing that sticks out," LaRoche said. "When we were doing well, it was a different person stepping up each day with that clutch hit or big pitch. Right now, it seems like everybody is going through that same thing right now. We can't get that one hit or one pitch we need."

Today

? Game: Pirates at St. Louis Cardinals, Busch Stadium, St. Louis.

? When: 1:40 p.m.

? TV: FSN Pittsburgh.

?Inside: Newcomer Delwyn Young makes first start as a Pirate , Page D-3.