By MATT PIKE
Drew Gilbert hit a two-run home run in the 10th inning, helping lift the San Francisco Giants to a 6-5 victory and a series victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium in the series finale
The Giants opened the scoring in the third inning after Brett Harris grounded into a double play, but Jonah Cox scored from third. They extended their lead to 3-0 in the seventh against Cardinals reliever Luis Gastelum. Former Cardinal Andrew Knizner was hit by a pitch and Christian Koss singled with one out and after Cox singled to right field, Jordan Walker’s throw eluded Nolan Gorman at third base, allowing Koss to score. Cardinals starter Matthew Liberatore allowed one run in six innings striking out two and walking three while giving up six hits.
In the bottom half of the seventh inning the Cardinals cut the lead to one, scoring two runs. A fielding error by Koss on a hit by Nathan Church with two outs allowed Walker to score, after Walker walked to lead off the inning. With the bases loaded, a wild pitch from reliever Trent Harris brought home Thomas Saggese to put St. Louis down 3-2. In the top of the eighth the Giants added to their lead with a run, Knizner hitting an RBI single to drive in Shay Whitcomb.
Trailing 4-2 the Cardinals fought back in the ninth with two runs off Giants closer Dylan Smith, who blew his fifth save of the season. Gorman drew a leadoff walk and Saggese reached on an infield single. With one out, pinch hitter Iván Herrera walked to load the bases and José Fermín drove in one run to cut into the lead with a sacrifice fly, scoring Gorman, before down to his last strike, Leo Bernal singled to bring home Saggese to tie the game 4-4 and force extra innings.
Gilbert’s tenth home run of the season came off Cardinals closer Riley O’Brien in the top of the 10th, scoring Grant McCray, who started the inning on second base. In the bottom of the inning, the bases loaded, a sacrifice fly from Saggese scored Alec Burleson and moved Victor Scott II to third base, but the tying run would be straded at third after Church flew out to end the game. O'Brien fell to 3-9 on the season giving up two runs, one earned in one inning while walking one and giving up two hits.
At the plate, Church was 2-for-5. Walker was 0-for-3 with two walks and a stolen base with a run scored. Bernal was 1-for-5 with an RBI and Saggese was 1-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.
St. Louis is off on Thursday and will open their final home series of the season on Friday hosting the Washington Nationals. Kyle Leahy (10-4, 3.33 ERA, 128Ks) is set to start for the Cardinals on Friday against Cade Cavalli (12-5, 3.12 ERA, 194Ks) for the Nationals. First pitch is at 7:15pm, coverage will begin at 7:05pm on KY 102 (102.5 FM).
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