A strike away: Mikolas just short of no-hitter for Cardinals

By JOE HARRIS
Associated Press

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Miles Mikolas was one strike from a no-hitter when he gave up a double to Cal Mitchell with two outs in the ninth inning, and the St. Louis Cardinals routed the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-1 to sweep a doubleheader. Mitchell drove a 2-2 curveball over the head of Gold Glove center fielder Harrison Bader and just beyond his outstretched mitt as he tried to make a running catch with his back to home plate. The ball bounced on the warning track 383 feet from the plate and over the wall in straightaway center for a ground-rule double. The hit came on the 129th pitch from Mikolas, most in the majors this season and 14 more than his previous career high set last month. The Pirates lost their ninth straight.