Wednesday’s Game Report: Giants 7, Cardinals 6
By Rob Rains
The Cardinals were on their way to a tidy drama-free win over the Giants on Wednesday but another bullpen collapse rewrote the end of the script.
The Cardinals were leading 6-1 and had two outs in the eighth with one runner on base before six consecutive Giants reached base in what turned into a six-run inning that gave the Giants the comeback win and a sweep of the three-game series in San Francisco.
Cade Winquest hit a batter and then a walk loaded the bases, followed by two singles and two doubles off Winquest and George Soriano that produced the six runs.
Coming into the eighth the Cardinals had allowed only two singles from the third to the seventh innings.
The Cardinals finished their nine-game trip with a 4-5 record. Three of the losses came in the opponent’s last at-bat.
Here is how Wednesday’s game broke down:
At the plate: A three-run homer by Leo Bernal gave the Cardinals a 4-1 lead in the third after their first run scored on an RBI single by Nolan Gorman in the second … They increased the lead to 6-1 with runs in the fifth and sixth … Gorman singled with one out in the eighth but pinch-runner Victor Scott II was stranded at third base … Jose Fermin, who hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth, singled to lead off the ninth but was erased when Jordan Walker hit into a double play.
On the mound: Andre Pallante allowed a run in the first inning but then shut out the Giants through the fifth … Justin Bruihl struck out the side in the sixth and Luis Gastelum worked a perfect seventh, but it was a different story in the eighth … After a leadoff single, Winquest retired the next two batters before hitting a batter, issuing a walk and giving up a two-run single … Soriano relieved and gave up a single and back-to-back doubles that put the Giants in front.
Key stat: This was the 26th one-run loss for the Cardinals, who have lost nine of their last 10 games decided by one run.
Worth noting: The last time the Giants swept a three-game series from the Cardinals in San Francisco was in 2001 … Masyn Winn, who returned from the injured list on Tuesday night, was a late scratch after saying his injured thumb was still hurting … Walker had the day off until he pinch-hit in the ninth … With Peoria’s season over, pitcher Brandon Clarke was promoted to Double A Springfield.
Up next: After Thursday’s day off, the Cardinals will open their final homestand of the season on Friday night with the first of three games against the White Sox. Matthew Liberatore is the scheduled starter.
Follow Rob Rains on X @RobRains
