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.
