San Francisco Giants’ Blake Sabol celebrates after hitting a game-winning, two-run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the ninth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Tue Apr 25, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Tony the Tiger Hayes

SAN FRANCISCO- San Francisco Giants (10-13) catcher Blake Sabol belted a two run walk off homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to help defat the St Louis Cardinals 5-4 to give the Giants a 2-0 lead in the three game series at Oracle Park in San Francisco.

Sabol said after the game that was one of the best moments of his life. Sabol said as soon as he hit the ball by the sound he knew and he bat flipped the bat. Sabol said he just remember screaming and rounding the bases and was jumping up and down with his teammates at home plate.

The Giants in the bottom of the ninth inning had a runner at second and the Cardinals had pitcher Ryan Helsley (0-2) in relief who gave up the home run ball to Sabol who hit it over the center field fence. Sabol said he didn’t come up there to hit a home run but to see what Helsley was offering and if he could see some of the ball out of Helsley’s hand.

Giants manager Gabe Kapler said that was a fight for your life situation for Sabol and he was down two strikes and for Sabol to connect on a pitch like that for a two run home run “it was pretty remarkable. Really cool moment, one of the cooler moments I’ve been part of since I’ve been here.” said Kapler.

The Giants were down 4-2 going into the ninth inning, Joc Pederson reached first on a fielding error by the Cards second baseman Tommy Edman. Then Mike Yastrzemski swung for an RBI double cutting the Cardinals lead to one run 4-3. So with Yastrzemski at second Sabol took Helsley to deep center for the two run walk off homer and one run win.

The Cardinals fell to 9-15 marking the Cards worst 24 game start in 50 years which had St Louis manager Oliver Marmol saying that this group has not given up yet, “This group’s not going to cave,” Marmol said. “I don’t care what people think. This will serve us extremely well when we get into September. I’ll tell you that.”

Kapler used an opener and the Giants ended up using eight pitchers, the Giants ended up surrendering three runs in the top of the eighth inning. The Giants sixth pitcher Scott Alexander gave up the three Cardinal runs, pitching 0.1 innings, three hits and three earned runs but the Giants persevered with Sabol’s two run homer to win it.

Starting pitchers for Wednesday night’s 6:45 pm tilt at Oracle Park for the Cardinals Miles Mikolas (0-1 ERA 7.46) for the Giants Logan Webb (1-4 ERA 4.40) for game 3 of the four game series.