Through the highs and lows from the offense and pitching this season, defense has been a constant for the Pirates. And when that defense pairs with a hot pitching staff, the end result is something this organization hadn’t accomplished in nearly 50 years.

Battered, tattered and wheezing, the Cardinals reached the end of a 15-game grind with a 5-0 loss Wednesday and no runs in 27 innings as they head to Chicago.