ST. LOUIS — A scoreboard on the fritz kept the St. Louis Cardinals from finding out the inevitable. They found out soon enough.

Manager Tony La Russa said he didn't know for sure that the Cincinnati Reds had clinched the NL Central and eliminated the Cardinals from postseason contention until after St. Louis lost 7-2 to the Pittsburgh Pirates Tuesday night. But he had a pretty good idea.

"I know they quit showing the score and the last time they showed it was bases loaded and one out, so I thought it must not be a good result," La Russa said.

There was no fan reaction when the official knockout punch came for the defending NL Central champions — Cincinnati's 3-2 win over Houston — with one out in the sixth and Pittsburgh leading 4-2.

Even after getting a rare road victory, the Pirates clinched the worst record in the majors. Garrett Jones homered on a three-hit night and drove in three runs and Brian Burres pitched effectively into the sixth inning for Pittsburgh.

Infielder Aaron Miles made his fifth career appearance as pitcher for St. Louis, working the ninth. The radar gun had the right-hander topping out at 71 mph but he allowed only a one-out double to Neil Walker.

Pinch-hitter John Bowker added a three-run double in the eighth off Mike MacDougal for the Pirates, who snapped a five-game road losing streak and won for the eighth time in 11 games overall. They are 16-61 on the road, by far the worst record in the majors.

Jones' team-leading 21st homer, and first since Aug. 31 to end an 82 at-bat drought, was the only hit in a three-run first inning against Jeff Suppan (2-8).

Burres (4-4) gave up one earned run in 5X\c innings.