A rare error from catcher Yadier Molina was the beginning of a runaway inning for the San Francisco Giants, who scored six unearned runs in the third inning to distance themselves by three games over the Cardinals in the Wild Card after the 8-2 final Friday night at AT&T Park.
The Cardinals should have been out of the third when Giants starting pitcher Matt Moore laid down a bunt attempt in front of the plate. Molina’s throw sailed into center field. Cardinals starter Luke Weaver then walked the next two batters before a sacrifice fly scored the first run. Three straight hits including a bloop single by Buster Posey and a double by Brandon Belt blew the game open.
Posey is 7-for-9 in the first two games of this series, driving in four of the runs last night, and hitting his first home run since July 16th.
The loss puts the Cardinals three back of hosting the Wild Card game, but it also drops them two back of the Mets for playing in the first playoff game after New York topped Minnesota 3-0.