Rookie pitcher Michael Wacha rose to the occasion with another gem for the St. Louis Cardinals, who beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1 on Monday to force a decisive fifth game in their National League Division Series.

Wacha, who came within one out of hurling a no-hitter in the regular season finale against the Washington Nationals, did not allow a hit until the eighth inning of a tension-packed pitchers' duel at PNC Park.

"I did a lot of gushing about him before and everyone sees why. I don't think you could put a kid in a tougher spot," St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said about putting the 22-year-old into an elimination game for the top-seeded Cardinals.