The St. Louis Cardinals kept soon-to-be home run king Barry Bonds from getting any closer to Hank Aaron’s all time record Friday night at Busch Stadium, but they couldn’t keep the San Francisco Giants from taking the opening game of the weekend series 4-3.
Bonds walked three times, scoring a run in the Giants’ win. Three of San Francisco’s runs scored in the 5 th inning on a So Taguchi error. The Giants led 4-0 at that stage. The Cards managed to score a run in the 6 th and 2 more in the bottom of the 9 th , but that was all they could muster.
San Francisco starter Noah Lowry (9-6) gave up 1 earned run in 6 innings for the win. Randy Messenger pitched a third of an inning for his 1 st save. Mike Maroth (5-3) took the loss, giving up 4 runs – only 1 of them earned – in 5 innings of work.
The Cardinals (39-44) and the Giants (37-47) play again Saturday night at Busch Stadium. Braden Looper (6-6) goes to the mound for the Redbirds against San Francisco’s Tim Lincecum (3-2).
