MLB: St. Louis 8, San Francisco 2

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ST. LOUIS, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Mike Carpenter supplied a pinch-hit, two-run single in the sixth inning Monday to break the game open and boost the St. Louis Cardinals past San Francisco 8-2.

With the score tied 2-2 in the sixth, Matt Holliday stroked a leadoff double, went to third on an out and came home with the go-ahead run on a David Freese sacrifice fly.

But the Cards weren't done as Yadier Molina and John Jay each singled and Rafael Furcal drew a walk off Giants starter Matt Cain (10-5) to load the bases with two out.

That brought up Carpenter, who lined a solid hit to left, extending the St. Louis lead to 5-2.

Jay finished 4-for-4 with two RBI as the Cardinals took the opener of a four-game set.

Jake Westbrook (11-8) held the Giants to two runs on seven hits over six innings, collecting the victory.

Cain ended up yielding five runs on eight hits over 5 2/3 frames.

Angel Pagan and Buster Posey homered for San Francisco, which came into the contest with a half-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West.