By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (62-89) went into game two of their series with the St. Louis Cardinals (75-76) looking for a more efficient start as well as tying up this series and tie up the series they did a huge way winning in a Tuesday night laugher 10-3 at Busch Stadium in St Louis.

San Francisco got all over St. Louis starting pitcher Andre Pallante big time scoring three runs in the first inning. There is no better way to start any game than taking a significant lead in an opening inning.

The Cardinals were able to hit a solo home run in the bottom of the inning. Both team were quiet in the second inning but in the third San Francisco again began to flex their muscle scoring four runs and taking a 7-1 lead.

The Cardinals despite loading the bases in the third only scored a single run. The Giants would score a second run in the top of the fourth taking an 8-2 lead. The 8-2 score remained through the fifth, sixth and seventh innings.

Back-to-back San Francisco doubles in the eighth inning made it a 9-2 ball game. The Cardinals scored one more run in the bottom of the eighth and the possibility of a rally for St. Louis was all but gone. San Francisco would score their final run of the game tying up the series in game.

GAME RECAP

After losing a close one Mondday in game one the Giants were on a mission Tuesday night in game two. They scored early and often taking a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Bryce Eldridge led the charge hitting a two run home run. Jonah Cox reached first base and Turner Hill singled him home for a great opening inning leading 3-0. St. Louis’ Burleson hit a solo home run in the bottom of the inning.

The Cardinals Andre Pallante allowed a Christian Koss single in the second inning and the Giants Blade Tidwell went three and out.

San Francisco got exactly the start they were looking for and pushed their lead out even further in the top of the third scoring four runs. The production at the plate in the inning was an offensive masterpiece.

Cox led off with a bunt single followed by a Jung Hoo Lee double driving Cox to third base. Turner Hill grounded out and Cox scored with Lee moving over to third base the score now 4-1.

Drew Cavanaugh walked followed by a McCray single driving in Lee for another run and a 5-1 lead. Christian Koss singled both Cavanaugh and Grant McCray home. St. Louis was relieved to finally get out of the inning but they were now facing a 7-1 deficit.

It had been a tough one for their starter Pallante. Giants pitcher Tidwell struggled a bit in the bottom of the inning giving up a run. He gave up a single, followed by hitting Fermin and then a walk loading the bases with no outs.

A sacrifice fly scored one run but that would be the only run in the inning for St. Louis. Tidwell went on to force the sacrifice, and a couple of strikeouts to end the inning. The Cardinals could have done massive damage in the inning but instead came away with a single run, the score 7-2.

San Francisco scored another run in the top of the fourth. Bryce Eldridge walked and a Osleivis Basabe double drove him home for an 8-2 tally. Tidwell was having a great outing in this game going three and out as this game headed into the fifth inning.

Despite some struggles the Cardinals Pallante remained in the game going three and out in the top of the inning. The Giants Tidwell also went one, two, three, in the bottom of the fifth shutting the door on the St. Louis offense.

There was a pitching change in the top of the sixth inning for the Cardinals. Brycen Mautz relieved Pallante dismissing the Giants three and out. San Francisco’s Tidwell closed out six innings going three and out and he could not have had a better showing. Through six inning, the Giants had 8 hits and the Cardinals with only two.

The Cardinals Mautz walked a couple and struck out a couple to close out the top of the seventh inning. The Giants Blade Tidwell gave up a single and with two outs in the bottom of the inning he was relieved by Jason Foley. He may have been pulled due to a 95 pitch count.

San Francisco had back-back doubles in the eighth inning with two outs scoring another run. Both Brett Harris and Eldridge had the two doubles that drove Harris home extending their lead to 9-3. San Francisco’s Foley gave up one run in the bottom of the eighth. Going into the ninth inning the score was 9-3 in favor of the Giants.

San Francisco would hit their second home run of the game in the top of the ninth courtesy of Turner Hill. The Cardinals went down quietly in the bottom of the ninth and that was the ball game 10-3. The Giants had tied up this game and would be looking for a series win tomorrow.

First pitch for Wednesday’s game three is scheduled for 10:15 AM. Anthony Molina will take the mound for the Giants. He has a 3-1 win/loss record and a 5.29 ERA. Matthew Liberatore will start for the Cardinals. He has a 5-14 win/loss record and a 5.53 ERA.

GAME NOTES

This was an encouraging game for the Giants from start to finish. They jumped all over Cardinals starting pitcher Andre Pallante scoring three runs taking a very early lead and didn’t let their foot off the accelerator for the rest of the game scoring in five innings dominating the entire game. They had it all covered offensively and defensively.

We saw another incredible game from Bryce Eldridge show-casing some crazy power. He hit a two run home run in the first inning getting this game going in the right direction. It was supposedly the longest home run at Busch this season. (461 feet). He finished with three RBIs continuing to look like one of San Francisco’s most exciting young players.

Blade Tidwell delivered an excellent start, he was particularly impressive going nearly seven innings. He was relieved in the seventh after giving up a single with two outs. While it would have been nice to see him go the full seven, his pitch count was getting up there with 95. He did a great job keeping the Cardinals offense under control. This allowed San Francisco to continue to build a comfortable lead before the bullpen took over.

One of the biggest positives for the remainder of the season are the team’s younger players including Eldridge. They all continue to get meaningful major-league experience and have more than proven that they can contribute offensively.