Leo Bernal broke a 1-1 tie with a 3-run HR. Andre Pallante spotted the Giants an early run, but was solid through five innings. The offense tacked on single tallies for a 6-1 lead, but no lead is safe with this bullpen. The Giants explode for six runs in the bottom of the eighth, aided by walks and HBP.

The Cardinals, as is their norm, start quietly. A double and an RBI single get the Giants out front in the bottom of the first. The Cardinals answer quickly in the top of the 2nd, with a Baez double and a Gorman single knotting the game back up. In the third, the Cardinals exploded quickly with a single, a walk and the Bernal 3-run HR breaking the tie. Pallante kept the ball on the ground in the early going, handcuffing the Gigantes. Cardinals up 4-1. Interesting, the rally was fueled by Herrera getting picked off, but the pitcher, running right at Herrera managed to interfere with Ivan, resulting in the runner being placed on second.

The game moved along quickly through the fourth. In the fifth, a similar script played out with a Torres single, a Herrera HBP (shocking!) and a Burly walk loaded the bases for Bernal. Time to have a day! Bittersweet, Bernal GIDP results in the Cardinals extending their lead to 5-1. AP kept things in order through the end of his start at five innings. Well done.

In the sixth, Saggese walks and Church bunt singles and the Giants throw it around resulting in runners on second and third. Fermin with a SacFly to tack on another run. These runs are needed with this bullpen. Bruihl Cardinals up 6-1.

The decisive and bitter end

The Cardinals went quietly in the seventh. Gastelum pitched a clean bottom of the seventh, looking sharp. In the fateful eighth, Winquest started off allowing a single, but earned a K. He then got the second out on a harmless fly out and things looked good. What followed? The seeds for any explosion inning. An HBP. A walk. An RBI single. Winquest out, Soriano in and things turned worse. Single, double, double results in four more run, handing the Giants a six-run explosion and a 7-6 lead. A ground out, six batters late, ends the inning.

In the ninth, a single is followed by a Walker GIDP (man, did he finish the trip poorly!) and a Herrera ground out closes out a very tough loss.