(SportsNetwork.com) - The St. Louis Cardinals got the best of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of their four-game series and look to take another one Tuesday at Busch Stadium.

The Cardinals won Monday's opener in dramatic fashion, as Matt Adams belted a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning. Adams had two of St. Louis' three hits and Jon Jay added the other one.

"Able to get Adams to do something special, we needed that. Great at-bat," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said.

Adam Wainwright was aiming to become the National League's first 12-game winner and did not figure into the decision with seven scoreless innings, five strikeouts and three walks. Pat Neshek pitched the ninth for the win (3-0).

St. Louis has won four of six games and pulled within four games of Milwaukee for first place in the NL Central. The Brewers lost to Philadelphia Monday.

Carlos Martinez will try to pitch St. Louis to another win when he takes the mound Tuesday. He has won his last two decisions and defeated San Francisco on the road in last Thursday's 7-2 victory, allowing one run in five innings.

Martinez is 2-3 with a 3.91 ERA and will make his first career start against Pittsburgh. He is 0-1 with a 5.68 in six relief appearances.

The Pirates lost for just the fourth time in the past 16 games and kicked off a seven-game road trip.

Starling Marte and Neil Walker had two hits apiece and Justin Wilson served up Adams' home run in the ninth. Pirates starter Charlie Morton threw seven shutout innings of one-hit ball with five K's and two walks.

"He had nasty stuff today," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said of Morton. "Today was all about the sinker."

Walker is riding a nine-game hitting streak, going 10-for-30 (.303).

The Pirates were 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left 12 men on base. The start of the game was delayed 47 minutes due to rain before there was another stoppage for 11 minutes.

Pirates young star Gregory Polanco struck out in a pinch-hitting role and is expected to be back in the lineup Tuesday. Polanco was 0-for-4 in Sunday's win over the Phillies.

Pittsburgh has gone 13-8 in its last 21 games away from PNC Park and has won five straight road series. The last time Pittsburgh won six consecutive road series was back in 1938.

Pirates starters have gone 15-6 in the last 28 games and Vance Worley will try to push the mark to 16 when he takes the mound Tuesday. Worley will make his fifth start with the Buccos and lost to Arizona on last Thursday's 10-2 setback, as he gave up three runs in seven innings.

Worley is 2-1 with a 2.28 ERA and has won both of his career starts against the Cardinals.

Pittsburgh and St. Louis have split 10 meetings this season. Each of the last four games in this series has been decided by two runs or less.