ST. LOUIS — After getting blanked by the San Francisco Giants at Busch Stadium on Friday night, the St. Louis Cardinals will head back to San Francisco for game 6 of the NLCS.
The Giants poured on four runs in the fourth inning to give veteran left-handed pitcher Barry Zito all the padding he would need to get the win.
Right fielder Hunter Pence grounded into a fielder’s choice, and second baseman Marco Scutaro scored on a throwing error by pitcher Lance Lynn. Shortstop Brandon Crawford’s two-run RBI single extended the lead to 3-0. Zito’s RBI bunt made it 4-0.
Lynn (0-1, 4.91 ERA) got pulled before the inning was over. In 3 2/3 innings, Lynn gave up four runs on four hits, striking out six and walking two. Zito (1-0, 0.00 ERA) tossed 7 2/3 scoreless innings, fanning six and walking one.
Third baseman Pablo Sandoval crushed a solo home run in the eighth to give the Giants a 5-0 lead.
Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter (1-1, 1.86 ERA) takes the mound against Giants starter Ryan Vogelsong (1-0, 1.50 ERA) for Game 6 of the NLCS on Sunday night at AT&T Park.
