Coverage of today's Cards and Giants game can be heard on Newstalk 97.3 WTIM beginning at 6:40pm.
St. Louis, MO (SportsNetwork.com) - Michael Morse smacked a go-ahead two-run
double in the top of the eighth inning and the San Francisco Giants edged
the St. Louis Cardinals, 6-5, in the opener of a four-game set.
Morse also cracked a solo homer, while Pablo Sandoval also hit a solo shot and
scored a pair of runs for the Giants, who have won seven of their last eight
games.
Javier Lopez (1-0) notched the win after recording the final two outs in the
seventh. Sergio Romo allowed an RBI single to Matt Carpenter in the ninth, but
induced a game-ending pop up off the bat of Shane Robinson with runners on the
corners to earn his 17th save of the year.
Allen Craig belted a solo homer among his two hits, two RBI and pair of runs
scored for St. Louis, which has dropped three of its last four games.
The Cardinals led 4-3 after seven innings before the Giants surged ahead with
a trio of runs in the eighth.
Gregor Blanco started the inning with a single and after pinch-hitter Tyler
Colvin popped out, Blanco stole second. Angel Pagan then singled into center
and Blanco originally held up at third. Carlos Martinez (0-3) attempted to cut
off Peter Bourjos' throw from center, but the ball glanced off his glove and
then darted past catcher Yadier Molina, allowing Blanco to score the tying
run.
Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said after the game that Martinez was supposed
to be behind the catcher.
"He was in the wrong spot and it ended up hurting," Matheny said.
Hunter Pence grounded out to move Pagan to third and Martinez intentionally
walked Sandoval to put runners on the corners with two away. Trevor Rosenthal
came on and Morse whacked a double that split the gap in right center to plate
Pagan and Sandoval to give San Francisco a 6-4 advantage.
"He can do a lot of damage," Giants starter Ryan Vogelsong said of Morse.
"He's been a big addition for us."
Jean Machi tossed a 1-2-3 eighth.
Earlier, Craig's two-out RBI ground-rule double in the home first opened the
scoring before the Giants went in front by plating a pair of runs in the
second.
Morse led off the frame with a solo shot deep into the seats in left-center.
Brandon Hicks hit a one-out single and moved to second on a Brandon Crawford
groundout and scored when Blanco squirted a grounder through the hole on the
right side to give the Giants a 2-1 edge.
St. Louis went back in front following a two-run fourth.
Matt Holliday singled to begin the inning and Craig and Molina worked back-to-
back walks to load the bases. Holliday crossed the plate when Jhonny Peralta
rolled into a double-play. Jon Jay brought home Craig with a base hit into
right-center, which put the Cardinals in front 3-2.
Sandoval cracked a blast over the wall in left-center to tie the game in the
sixth, but Craig's leadoff shot into the front row of seats in the home half
gave the Cardinals a 4-3 advantage.
Game Notes
Vogelsong surrendered four runs on seven hits and three walks over 6 1/3
innings, while Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia fanned seven, but gave up three
runs on five hits over seven frames ... The Giants were 3-for-7 with runners
in scoring position, while St. Louis finished 3-for-10 with RISP.