Pirates rally in eighth inning, one win from NLCS

John Perrotto | Special for USA TODAY Sports

PITTSBURGH --- Breaking down the NL Division Series Game 3 at PNC Park.

Pirates 5, Cardinals 3: Pirates lead series, 2-1

State of the Series: The Pirates can wrap up the best-of-five series Monday in Game 4 in their home ballpark. Charlie Morton (7-4, 3.26 in the regular season) will start for the Pirates against Cardinals rookie Michael Wacha (4-1, 2.78). Morton is 2-9 lifetime against St. Louis and went 0-2 with a 7.90 ERA in three starts this season. Wacha is 1-0 in two games against the Pirates, allowing two hits over nine shutout innings.

Game 1 Pivot Point: St. Louis had tied the game 3-3 in the top of the eighth inning when Carlos Beltran hit a leadoff home run off Mark Melancon for his third RBI of the game. However, the Pirates answered with two runs in the bottom of the eighth as Pedro Alvarez and Russell Martin hit consecutive RBI singles.

Man of the Moment: Pirates right fielder Marlon Byrd went 2-for-3 with a two-run single, a double and a walk during the decisive eighth inning rally. The trade in which the Pirates acquired Byrd from the New York Mets on Aug. 27 is looking like one of Neal Huntington's best during his six years as general manager.

Needing a Mulligan: Cardinals rookie left-handed reliever Kevin Siegrist gave up the singles to Alvarez and Martin in the eighth.

What you missed on TV: Another wild scene outside PNC Park. Fans were already partying in the parking lots five hours before the first pitch while continuing to bask in the Pirates' first postseason appearance since 1992.

Manager's Special: Cardinals manager Mike Matheny was seemingly making the right move when he brought in the lefty Siegrist to face the left-handed hitting Alvarez in the eighth inning but the big third baseman caused the move to backfire by hitting the winning single. Martin then added insult to injury with his single.