Gene J. Puskar, Associated Press Pirates catcher Humberto Cota waits for the late relay throw from right field as the Cardinals' David Eckstein scores on a sixth-inning single by Scott Rolen. Click photo for larger image. Today Matchup: Pirates (Ian Snell 7-3) vs. Twins (Francisco Liriano 5-1), 7:05 p.m. Where: PNC Park. TV/Radio: FSN Pittsburgh/KDKA-AM (1020) and Pirates Radio Network. Related articles Pirates Notebook: Minnesota to throw 1-2 punch Forbes Field to rise again, sort of Pirates Scouting Report: Minnesota Twins Cook: It's not all bad for Pirates Game Statistics Provided by Forecaster Pirates vs. Cardinals box score Game play-by-play

If it is true that fairly young baseball teams learn from playing close games, then these Pirates should have a whole bunch of Phi Beta Kappas on their roster by October.

Yesterday, in their 67th game, they played their 27th one-run game ... and lost their 20th such game, this time a 6-5 classroom exercise with the St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park.

The result brought to mind something manager Jim Tracy said the other day before he left for California yesterday to attend youngest son Mark's high school graduation.

"It's easier to play when it's 7-2," Tracy said. "They learn a lot more in close games, in one-run games."

But do they learn?

"There is a learning curve," veteran third baseman Joe Randa said. "As a team, if you break down the game, there's usually one inning that's crucial. You can point to something. There are a lot of situations in games -- an offensive situation when you didn't get a hit or defensively not making a play."

"When you're getting closer, it means you're doing some things right," Jason Bay said. "And getting beat by one run is better than getting boat-raced every night, that's for sure. We're not a championship-caliber team just yet -- and I know people don't want to keep hearing it -- but experience-wise down the line it's going to help.

"But it is tough coming back and coming up short," he said wearily.

Humberto Cota sounded equally tired.

"All these one-run games -- I don't know what's going on," the catcher said. "It is frustrating. We've just got to hope that one day or the other ..."

That it turns around.

The Pirates yesterday held a one-run lead through the early innings, but there were signs in the Cardinals' fourth that things were about to come unhinged. Starter Victor Santos was developing a blister under the fingernail on the middle finger of his right (pitching) hand.

With one out, Chris Duncan tripled off the right-center-field wall. The Pirates played their infield in, but Santos walked Gary Bennett, a .203 hitter, on four pitches. Then Santos walked pitcher Mark Mulder on five pitches.

"I didn't have my usual control," Santos said. "[The blister] started to nag me in the third inning."

Santos got David Eckstein to pop out, but So Taguchi flared a 1-2 pitch into short right. Craig Wilson almost got to the ball, but it dropped in for a two-run single.

The Pirates regained the lead in their half of the fourth on Jose Castillo's 11th home run -- and ninth in his past 18 games -- and Jose Bautista's run-scoring double off the right-field wall.

"Bautista impresses by the day," Tracy said recently.

The Cardinals continued to give the Pirates fits in the fifth.

With one out, Juan Encarnacion hit what seemed a fairly routine bouncer to Randa's left. Randa, playing his second game after missing six weeks with a foot injury, made the play, but Encarnacion just beat his throw to first.

"You can't practice major-league speed [on a rehab assignment]," Randa said. "I probably should have been quicker. Encarnacion kind of runs and swings. I got the ball and kind of had to regroup and throw."

"Juan was hustling," said Jim Lett, who managed the Pirates yesterday in Tracy's absence.

Santos went 2-0 on Hector Luna, which brought Lett, pitching coach Jim Colborn and Cota to the mound to inspect Santos' blister.

"I'm going to tell them you have a blister and then I want you to finish the inning," Cota told Santos.

Santos remained in the game, but walked Luna and was gone. Duncan drove Ryan Vogelsong's first pitch off the right-field wall for a tying double. Bennett's ground ball to second got Luna home with the go-ahead run.

The Cardinals scored another run in the sixth on an infield hit by Eckstein, a sacrifice and Scott Rolen's bloop single into right.

Rolen has been a great hitter for the past month. In his past 26 games, he has hit .418 with 26 RBIs.

Jeromy Burnitz drew the Pirates within that dreaded one run with his third pinch-hit home run of the season in the bottom of the sixth.

The Pirates loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh, but Castillo, hitting .361 since May 9, popped to center.