Morse Leads San Francisco Giants With 3 RBI’s In Nail-Biter
The San Francisco Giants defeated the St. Louis Cardinals by the final score of 6-5 in the first game of the series. Michael Morse led the way with 3 RBI’s and Sergio Romo picked up the save although he gave up a run in the process. Pablo also extended his RBI streak to nine games on a solo home run.
This evening was definitely not a pitcher’s duel as both Giants’ starter Ryan Vogelsong and Cardinals’ starter Jaime Garcia each had some troubles.
Vogelsong himself allowed the lead-off runner to reach base in six of the seven innings he started, and as a result had a strenuous outing. He was able to go 6.1 innings, though he allowed four runs. Garcia finished with three runs allowed on five hits to go along with seven strikeouts in seven full innings.
Both pitchers ended the night with no decisions, and Javier Lopez picked up his first win of the season for the San Francisco Giants in the relief effort.
Vogelsong got off to a rough start as he allowed a run in the bottom of the first inning on what turned out to be a ground-rule double by Allen Craig. Matt Carpenter would score in the process.
Two more of those runs came in the fourth inning where he allowed one on a double play ball and another on a base hit by John Jay. However, Jay got caught trying to stretch his single into a double, so the defense was able to help Vogelsong get out of that inning.
The biggest inning of the night for the Giants came in the top of the eighth — where they scored three runs — to give themselves a 6-4 lead. Angel Pagan drove the first run of the inning in when he hit a single then advanced to second on the throw while Gregor Blanco scampered home from second base. Then, later in the inning, Michael Morse hit a double to right field that scored Pagan and Pablo Sandoval.
In the bottom of the ninth Romo decided to make thing interesting and gave up a run on a base hit with two outs and a full count. However, he was able to close things out by forcing a popup with runners on first and third. This save was his 17th of the season.
With the win the San Francisco Giants continue to boast the best record in the league with 35 wins and just 19 losses.
Tomorrow evening this four-game series continues with Madison Bumgarner (6-3, 3.15 ERA) set to face Adam Wainwright (8-2, 1.67 ERA) in what should be a tough night to be a hitter, especially since Wainwright holds the lowest ERA in the majors.