Scutaro, Vogelsong help Giants get even
SAN FRANCISCO – Marco Scutaro answered Matt Holliday’s hard takeout with a big hit of his own to help the San Francisco Giants end their home slide.
Scutaro hit a two-run single in San Francisco’s four-run fourth inning to help the Giants get their first home win this postseason, 7-1 over the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night, to tie the N.L. championship series at one game apiece.
The game got off to a testy start when Holliday barreled into Scutaro at second base to break up a potential double play in the first inning. The play riled up a crowd that had seen three straight losses by the Giants this postseason.
There was plenty to cheer all night for the Giants. Ryan Vogelsong pitched seven strong innings, Angel Pagan hit a leadoff homer to give San Francisco its first home lead this postseason, and Scutaro broke the game open with his single off Chris Carpenter.
Making Scutaro’s hit even sweeter for the Giants was the fact that Holliday misplayed the ball in left field, allowing a third run to score on the error.
Scutaro left after five innings with an injured left hip, and went for X-rays.
The series shifts to St. Louis for three games, starting with Game 3 on Wednesday when San Francisco ace Matt Cain takes on Kyle Lohse of the Cardinals.
The Giants benefited from a missed call by an umpire in the eighth inning after St. Louis center fielder Jon Jay made a spectacular, diving catch to rob Brandon Crawford of a hit.
Jay threw toward first and the Cardinals should have gotten a double play, but first base umpire Bill Miller did not see Allen Craig tag Gregor Blanco’s jersey as he raced back to first on the play.
St. Louis manager Mike Matheny argued the call and the umpires discussed it, but they kept the safe call even though replays showed Craig made the tag. Ryan Theriot followed with a two-run single for the 7-1 lead.
Back at Busch Stadium, Holliday will be cheered after being the target of boos all night following his aggressive play.
With runners on first and second and one out, Craig hit a bouncer to Crawford, and the shortstop quickly flipped to Scutaro for the forceout.
Holliday slid late into Scutaro, crushing his left leg to prevent the double play. Scutaro lay on the ground twisting in pain before being attended to.
Scutaro stayed in the game with a limp until being replaced in the sixth by Theriot.
By then, he had done his damage with the bat in the big fourth inning.
Vogelsong became the first Giants starter to make it through six innings this postseason in his first career postseason win.