ST. LOUIS — Andrew Heaney jogged in from the Busch Stadium bullpen on Monday night for his first appearance in a week with the Pirates comfortably ahead. He left with his head down, his team behind, and questions swirling about his future.

While it didn’t prove fatal — the Pirates tied the game in the top of the ninth on a Ronny Simon RBI double, before losing 7-6 on Alec Burleson’s walk-off homer off Dennis Santana in the bottom of the ninth — questions about Heaney’s role remain. Heaney entered in the fifth inning with the Pirates ahead 4-1. He left trailing 5-4, before right-hander Colin Holderman allowed an inherited runner to score.

Heaney has now thrown 120 ⅓ innings for the Pirates this season, crossing the 120-inning threshold.

With the Pirates well out of contention and looking

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