By Jeremy Kahn

ST. LOUIS-In the first meeting of the season between the two teams that have represented the National League in the last five World Series, game one did not go the way that the reigning World Champion San Francisco Giants wanted it go.

Mark Reynolds was safe on an errant throw by Brandon Crawford that scored Pleasanton native Stephen Piscotty from third base in the bottom of the eighth inning, as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Giants 2-1 before a crowd of 40,088 at Busch Stadium.

The Stanford graduate Piscotty picked up his first career triple with one out in the frame, and after a intentional walk to Brandon Moss, he scored the eventual game-winning run on the errant Crawford throw.

“A perfect throw would have gotten him,” said Bruce Bochy.

“That was a tough one that was a ball that wasn’t hit hard enough or soft enough that I could come home, I thought I was close to the bag and take it myself because of the short hop,” Saudi Crawford.

Chris Heston pitched only four and two-thirds innings, allowing one run on four hits, walking one and striking out six.

“Finding the strike zone is an issue right now, just get back to being aggressive in the zone and not walking so many people,” said Heston.

Yadier Molina gave the Cardinals a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, as he hit a towering home run to left field that was measured at 403 feet.

That would be the score when the Giants came to the plate in the top of the sixth inning against Wacha. Matt Duffy led off the inning with a single, then Brandon Belt singled; however Hunter Pence grounded into a double play that sent Duffy to third base. Crawford then hit a double to left-center field that tied up the game.

Crawford extended his hitting streak up to 11 games, as he singled in the fourth inning and then hit the game-tying double in the top of the sixth inning.

Andrew Susac walked in the top of the ninth inning against Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal that brought Buster Posey to the plate to pinch-hit for Justin Maxwell.

“I knew I hit it good, but it also knew it was also high, I didn’t feel that it was a no doubter,” said Posey.

Kelby Tomlinson extended his hitting streak to a modest four games, as he went 1-for-2 at the plate.

Michael Wacha went seven strong innings, allowing just one run on six hits, walking one and striking out six for the Cardinals.

Kevin Siegrist pitched a perfect eighth inning with one strikeout to pickup his fourth win of the season against zero losses. This was Siegrist’s first win since June 7 against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.

Cardinals center fielder Jason Heyward was forced to leave the game with tightness in his left hamstring.

NOTES: Mike Leake was scheduled to start on Tuesday, but he still needs more time to recuperate from his left hamstring strain.

Ryan Vogelsong, who pitched five innings, striking out eight in Thursday’s 3-1 victory against the Washington Nationals will start in Leake’s place and Matt Cain will pitch in the series finale on Wednesday.

Madison Bumgarner was named National League Player of the Week after going 2-0 with a 0.50 earned run average and 26 strikeouts. It is the first Player of the Week award for Bumgarner, as he threw two complete games and went 2-for-6 with a double, a home run and a run batted in.

Susac was activated from the 15-day disabled list after missing the last 26 games with a right thumb sprain, to make room for Susac, Hector Sanchez was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento.