San Francisco Giants’ Brandon Crawford, right, is met at home plate by teammates Buster Posey, center, and Hunter Pence (8) after Crawford’s two-run home run gainst the St. Louis Cardinals during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 1, 2017, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
By Morris Phillips
SAN FRANCISCO–As witnessed by the 12 pitchers that threw pitches out of the bullpen on Friday, this was not the type of ballgame decided on first impressions.
Brandon Crawford struck early, Cardinals’ starter Jack Flaherty succumbed a little to the nerves associated with his first big-league appearance, but the Cardinals stayed the course, striking for late runs in their 11-6 win over the Giants.
“We get down, we get the wind kicked out of us a little bit and they fight,” Cardinals’ manager Mike Matheney said. “That’s a skill, to have that kind of tenacity, to have that belief in themselves and each other. It’s going to pay off.”
The Giants led 5-2 through six innings, but the Cardinals scored nine runs in the final three innings to storm back. Matheney said he had no idea the game was one of the hottest in the history of the ballpark, but did remember remarking on how the beautiful the backdrop was at first pitch. But in the end, Matheney marveled at the resilience of his ballclub, which didn’t lose focus when down three runs late.
“Great offense, getting back into it,” Matheney said.
In the ninth inning alone, the Cardinals hit for the cycle, scored six times, and put the Giants away with Sam Dyson and Albert Suarez faltering for the home team. Manager Bruce Bochy didn’t apologize for the six pitching changes that snatched the game of any rhythm, but acknowledged his club was outclassed.
“I think you look at extra–base hits–I think they had what six there in the last three innings. Our setup guys, the closer… you’re probably not going to win a ballgame like this.”
Johnny Cueto returned to the active roster and started for the first time since July 14 and his rust showed in the steady traffic on the basepaths in the early innings. But Cueto departed with a lead, allowing four hits and two runs in 5 1/3 innings.
Crawford supported Cueto with a two-run homer in the second, and a two-run double in the third. The home run came after MLB’s formal apology regarding Crawford’s apparent home run in Thursday’s game.
The Giants have dropped 10 of their last 13 ballgames, including the first two to St. Louis on this abbreviated four-game homestand.
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