Rookie Joe Panik followed with a line drive single to right.
First and third, nobody out. Buster Posey stepped up and promptly drove a long sacrifice fly to center. Game tied.
The question at this early point in the contest was if the pitchers would be able to regroup or would the hitters dominate this game?
Rookie Shelby Miller was on the mound for the Cards; veteran Ryan Vogelsong for the Giants.
Top of the second: Kolten Wong doubled off Blanco's glove in deep center to pick up his teammate, Jay. A. J. Pierzynski then drove him in with a first-pitch single. Advantage Cardinals, 2-1.
In the top of the third, Vogelsong again allowed the first two hitters to reach base on fat pitches. Pablo Sandoval saved the day by starting a tough 5-4-3 double play, but the score jumped to 3-1, Cardinals.
Then Vogelsong plated a change up for a home run to Wong, one of the hottest Cardinal hitters this post-season.
That was it for the Giants starter. Cardinals up 4-1.
In the bottom of the third, true to form in this game, the leadoff hitter and pinch-hitter Joaquin Arias (for Vogelsong) hit a single. After taking second on an out, Arias took third on a long fly by Panik.
Posey then came up and drove a 3-2 pitch to left to drive in run two.
Up stepped Sandoval. The Giants have not hit a HR in 204 plate appearances. Pablo drew a walk.
Next came Hunter Pence. Single up the middle, scoring Posey and the the deficit was cut to one run.
So, as the game proceeded to the fourth inning, the score was St. Louis 4, San Francisco 3.
Seven runs in three innings? That translates into a final score of 12-9, not a traditional National League outcome.
San Francisco's Yusmeiro Petit came in for the fourth, and broke the string of leadoff hits. Petit struck out the side, including Carpenter.
In the bottom of the fourth, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny brought in reliever Pat Choate, who got out of a tough situation to preserve the lead.
Top the of the fifth, Petit again excelled, with another double play, this one started by Crawford.
Bottom of the fifth. Carlos Martinez, a 99 mph-type reliever came in to face Posey He walked him. But he induced a double play on a ground ball by Sandoval. And then he walked Pence.
Up came Belt. The Cardinals seemed afraid Pence might try to steal second.
Pence did. Matheny challenged. Over ruled. Pence on second and the Giants could tie the game with a hit.
Count grew to 2-2 on Belt. But Belt flied out.
At this point , this game appeared to be one of those destined to never end.
On to the sixth. Petit did his thing in the top of the inning. Bottom of the sixth. Marco Gonzalez pitching, Juan Perez hitting.
Perez got a leadoff walk.
Up came Crawford. He singled to right.
Two on, no one out. The Giants brought up pinch-hitter rookie Matt Duffy, for his first at bat in the post-season. Sacrifice bunt. Runners on second and third, one out.
Up came Blanco: Ground ball single to first, run scored. Tie game.
Then Panik grounded out to first, as another run scored.
Giants took the lead for the first time, 5-4.
Posey then did the thing that legends do, driving in another run with a single, his third of the night. The Giants lead had grown to 6-4.
Other stuff happened. Cut to the top of the eighth. Sergio Romo, now into the game, ended a threat with his signature slider.
On to the ninth. Santiago Casilla came in. Two outs. Single by Jay. Holliday struck out. Game over.
Game five Thursday night at AT&T.
