The Pirates lost what might have been manager Jim Tracy's last game, 6-5, to the St. Louis Cardinals before 25,664 this afternoon at PNC Park.

Bryan Bullington turned in his best major-league start, limiting St. Louis to two runs and five hits in five innings, but relievers Juan Perez and Franquelis Osoria each was charged with two runs in the Cardinals' four-run sixth.

Steve Pearce, Jose Castillo and Nate McLouth each had RBI hits in the seventh to pull the Pirates within 6-4, but Xavier Nady struck out with two men aboard later that inning, and Ronny Paulino did likewise in the eighth.

St. Louis closer Jason Isringhausen got the final four outs for his 32nd save. Nady drilled a two-out RBI single up the middle to score Josh Phelps, but Jose Bautista flied out to center to end the season.

The 18 pitchers used by the two teams yesterday is a major-league record for a nine-inning game. The Cardinals' 10 matched the most by one team. The Pirates' eight tied the team record.

The Pirates finished the season with a four-game losing streak and a 68-94 record, one victory better than each of the previous two seasons. They also clinched the second pick in the 2008 draft, as only the Tampa Bay Devil Rays had a worse record in Major League Baseball.

"As far as the season is concerned, it didn't completely turn out in the manner we would have liked," Tracy said. "I give an awful lot of credit to that group of players out there. They put it all on the line. In my opinion, as compared to a year ago, we had some brilliant moments and then some down times. ... They gave everything they had, and I tip my cap to every single one of them."

Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said before the game there remains no timetable for a decision regarding Tracy and his staff.

"The important thing is to get the right guy, be that Jim Tracy or if a decision is made to go in a different direction," Huntington said. "My concern is to go through the process fairly. I don't want to rush it. Does the fact that the season ends now play a role? Quite honestly, no. I want to make the right decision."

Tracy did not comment on his job status.

Reliever John Grabow left the game with a minor injury to his left hand, the result of a Skip Schumaker single that pushed back a finger.

More details in tomorrow's Post-Gazette.