SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals just needed to reach the late innings to get their bats going and capitalize on scoring chances.
Dexter Fowler hit a leadoff triple in the ninth inning and scored the go-ahead run on Kolten Wong’s single moments later, Stephen Piscotty later hit a two-run homer, and the Cardinals rallied from a three-run deficit to beat the San Francisco Giants 11-6 on Friday night.
“Great late offense, especially being down, getting back into it when you’re down three,” manager Mike Matheny said.
Paul DeJong added a two-run double in the six-run ninth and Yadier Molina had an RBI single.
“That was a great win. We really needed it,” Molina said. “We took some good at-bats against some good pitching and every time you do that a lot of good things may happen, and that’s what happened tonight.”
Harrison Bader hit a two-run homer in the third for St. Louis before San Francisco added on again with Hunter Pence’s two-run triple in the bottom half.
Randal Grichuk added a solo homer in the sixth for the Cardinals, his third straight game clearing the fences.
Brandon Crawford’s two-run homer held this time a night after he had one overturned on review that Major League Baseball said earlier Friday should have counted.
Before St. Louis scored nine runs over the final three innings, Johnny Cueto was in line for a victory in his first start since July 14 after a stint on the disabled list with tender spots on three pitching fingers and then a flexor muscle strain in his forearm that interrupted his rehab.
Denard Span added a run-scoring single in the second and Crawford wound up with two doubles in his three-hit day.
Cueto left in the top of the sixth to a warm ovation after throwing 80 pitches, his predetermined limit. He gave up two runs and four hits, struck out two and walked one.
“I feel very relieved,” Cueto said through an interpreter. “It’s not the same thing pitching in the minor leagues as pitching in the big leagues.”
The Giants, who have lost seven of eight and 10 of 13, turned a nifty — not to mention rare — 1-5-4 double play to end the fourth. After Molina’s one-out triple, Cueto fielded Piscotty’s comebacker and threw to third baseman Kelby Tomlinson. He chased down and tagged Molina between the mound and home plate then fired to second baseman Joe Panik to get Piscotty.
Right-hander Jack Flaherty allowed five runs and eight hits over four innings, struck out six and walked one to lose in his major league debut.
OVERHEATING
The first-pitch temperature of 93 degrees was the hottest for a game beginning after 7 p.m. in AT&T Park’s 18-year history. It topped an 84-degree start on Sept. 12, 2003 vs. Milwaukee.
HOME RUN NEGATED
MLB said Crawford should have had a two-run homer in San Francisco’s 5-2 loss Thursday.
It was initially ruled a home run then got overturned after a 4-minute, 8-second video review, with umpires deciding fans had reached over brick facade in right field.
“The call should have been confirmed as a home run for Crawford. MLB regrets this error,” baseball said in a statement.
Crawford didn’t want to discuss it before the game.
Manager Bruce Bochy wishes his shortstop at least got to add a home run and two RBIs to his season total.
“They were up front they made a mistake,” he said. “Unfortunately for Brandon he loses a home run.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cardinals: LF Tommy Pham sat out with a swollen right thumb he hurt sliding into second Thursday night. Matheny said Pham woke up Friday and the thumb was tighter than expected. There was a chance he could be available late but his status to start Saturday was unclear.
Giants: LF Jarrett Parker left the game with tightness in his left side and will have an MRI exam Saturday. … LHP Madison Bumgarner, scratched from his scheduled Thursday start with flu-like symptoms, took batting practice and could start as soon as Sunday. … Melancon could be facing a season-ending procedure with a recovery time of 6 to 8 weeks, Bochy said. The reliever missed 36 games with a right pronator strain. … 3B Pablo Sandoval had the night off while RF Pence was scheduled to rest Saturday.
UP NEXT
Cardinals: RHP Lance Lynn (10-8, 3.14 ERA) looks to win his first decision in five starts since consecutive victories on July 30 and Aug. 5.
Giants: RHP Chris Stratton (2-3, 3.82) makes his sixth major league start facing the Cardinals for the first time.
Photo credit – Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press / San Francisco, CA
