CARDINALS 7, GIANTS 2
SAN FRANCISCO -- Jhonny Peralta knew he hit it well. He didn't know how well until the ball landed in the seats.
Peralta's two-run home run produced the first runs scored by St. Louis in its first at-bat since June 18, a span of 14 games, leading the Cardinals past the reeling San Francisco Giants 7-2 on Thursday.
"I'd heard from the guys that you need to hit it hard to get it out here," Peralta said.
Carlos Martinez (2-3) earned his second victory as a starter and added a two-run single for the Cardinals, who won their second consecutive game after losing three in a row. Martinez allowed a run and five hits in five innings. He walked one and struck out six.
"We've had our struggles at the plate," Peralta said. "It was good to start it off in the first inning."
Madison Bumgarner (9-6) fell to 0-3 over his past four home starts after allowing five runs -- four earned -- and six hits over five innings. He walked three and struck out six.
Bumgarner also drove in a run for the Giants, who have lost 17 of 22 and fell out of first place in the NL West.
"You always want to play at home and I haven't pitched very good here all year," Bumgarner said. "I don't know what it is. You can't give in, you have to keep grinding."
Help could be on the way. The Giants optioned first baseman Adam Duvall to Class AAA Fresno after the game in anticipation of recalling Brandon Belt in time for today's game in San Diego.
"He's somebody we like having out there," Bumgarner said. "It's not going to do anything but help us."
Angel Pagan may return to the Giants lineup early next week, giving them some semblance of order at the top of the lineup.
Matt Carpenter continued ripping Giants pitching, extending his hitting streak against them to 11 games with a 2-for-4 effort. He has a .519 (28 for 54) career average against the Giants and has hit safely in 18 of his 20 games, including the postseason, against them.
"It's one of those crazy things," Carpenter said. "Luck has been on my side so far, I guess."
Yadier Molina added three hits and Oscar Tavares, John Jay and Shane Robinson each drove in a run for the Cardinals.
Peralta's first-inning home run, after Carpenter drew a walk, put St. Louis ahead to stay.
"I was able to work the walk and Jhonny hit the home run," Carpenter said. "That kind of set the tone and we found a way to pile it on."
Bumgarner drove in a run for the Giants in the third, but then gave up three runs in the fourth -- two on a single from Martinez.
Robinson, pinch hitting for Martinez in the sixth, tripled home a run. Tavares added an RBI in the seventh.
The Giants loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth, but Martinez got Buster Posey on a swinging strike three to end the threat.
In the sixth, Tyler Colvin walked, Adam Duvall singled and Brandon Crawford punched a single into right field. An error allowed Colvin to score.
Sam Freeman, Seth Maness and Jason Motte combined to keep the Giants at bay.
PHILLIES 5, MARLINS 4 Ben Revere scored the go-ahead run when Miami second baseman Donovan Solano bobbled a grounder in the ninth, and visiting Philadelphia rallied past the Marlins to snap a six-game losing streak. Tony Gwynn Jr. led off the ninth with a walk and eventually scored the tying run against Miami closer Steve Cishek (4-4). Revere scored easily when Chase Utley hit a grounder and Solano could only get the out at first. Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon got his 19th save in 21 chances. Jake Diekman (3-2) got the victory despite a shaky eighth, giving up two runs and costing Philadelphia the lead. Marcell Ozuna had three hits and scored twice for Miami, and Christian Yelich also had a two-hit night for the Marlins. Casey McGehee extended his hit streak to 10 for Miami, reaching base for the 27th consecutive game.
DIAMONDBACKS 10, PIRATES 2 David Peralta had three hits, including a two-run home run, and drove in four runs as visiting Arizona avoided a series sweep with a victory over Pittsburgh. Arizona scored three runs in the sixth and seven in the ninth.
DODGERS 3, ROCKIES 2 Zack Greinke pitched eight solid innings, Juan Uribe hit the go-ahead single in the ninth inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat host Colorado. Greinke (11-4) got the victory when the Dodgers rallied in the ninth.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
TIGERS 8, RAYS 1 Max Scherzer allowed two hits in eight innings, and Detroit backed its star right-hander with three early home runs in a victory over visiting Tampa Bay. Ian Kinsler, Victor Martinez and Torii Hunter (Pine Bluff) all went deep as part of a five-run first inning for the AL Central-leading Tigers.
YANKEES 7, TWINS 4 Carlos Beltran gave New York a jolt with a three-run home run, lifting Masahiro Tanaka to a victory over host Minnesota.
ORIOLES 5, RANGERS 2 Steve Pearce had a career-high four hits and drove in two runs, and Wei-Yin Chen shut down visiting Texas again as Baltimore completed a four-game sweep. The Rangers have lost nine consecutive road games.
ATHLETICS 4, BLUE JAYS 1 Sonny Gray allowed four hits over seven innings to bounce back from his worst start of the season and host Oakland beat Toronto. Stephen Vogt scored the winning run on a passed ball in the second inning and the A’s made it hold up behind Gray and two relievers.
Sports on 07/04/2014