SAN FRANCISCO, April 25 (UPI) -- Brad Penny and two others combined to toss a nine-hit shutout Sunday as the St. Louis Cardinals bested San Francisco 2-0.
Penny provided 7 2/3 strong innings, winning his third straight start since coming to the Cardinals in an off-season deal as St. Louis avoided a sweep at the hands of the Giants in a weekend series in San Francisco.
Penny scattered eight hits but didn't walk a batter while Ryan Franklin picked up his sixth save for pitching the ninth. Penny has given up only three earned runs in 28 2/3 innings for St. Louis so far this season, lowering his earned-run average to 0.94.
Albert Pujols homered in the first inning and Yadier Molina chipped in with a sacrifice fly to provide the Cards' offense.
Matt Cain (0-1) pitched well for the Giants in the loss, holding the Cards to just two runs over five innings.
