Matt Cain pitched another gem Wednesday,(7 IP, 1 ER, 3 K's) but for a third straight start he is denied his 10th win of the season. Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright however matched Cain pitch for pitch and then some, going nine innings, giving up one run and striking out 12.
St Louis outfielder Colby Rasmus was given a reprieve in his 10th inning at-bat when Pablo Sandoval dropped his foul pop. With Albert Pujols on deck Bobby Howry went after Rasmus and paid for it when the Centerfielder drove it over the rightfield wall for the Cardinals first win of the series 2-1.
The Giants defense had went 10 consecutive games without an error before committing three in this game alone. Rasmus is the first Cardinals rookie to hit a game-winning homer since Andy Van Slyke connected off the Astros' Bill Dawley in the 10th inning on Aug. 18, 1983. He was up there hacking, moving to 104 at-bats since his last walk May 25.
San Francisco didn't get a runner in scoring position against Wainwright until the eighth when it loaded the bases and eventually tied the game on a Bengie Molina sac fly.
The series finale is on Thursday. The Giants send out Barry Zito against Todd Wellemeyer.
