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St. Louis Cardinals Fall To Giants, Busch Stadium Lights Go Out

The St. Louis Cardinals dropped a strange game to the San Francisco Giants Wednesday, when a Fernando Salas blown save left a gassed Ryan Franklin on the mound in extra innings. Even Busch Stadium’s lights got in on the action, blinking out in the last at-bat of the game to delay the ending for 16 minutes before the Giants could record a final score of 7-5. Allen Craig homered and Daniel Descalso tripled for the Cardinals, who saw rookie closer Salas blow his first save of the season.

Franklin, who’d been invisible in the bullpen for weeks, went two innings in his second appearance in as many days, and couldn’t keep the Giants off the board in the 11th inning. The Cardinals couldn’t come away with the win despite taking five runs and 10 hits against Giants ace Tim Lincecum, and Jake Westbrook, who went just five-and-two-thirds, wasn’t able to rest a bullpen that had seen too much work in the last week.

St. Louis Cardinals Score Late To Beat San Francisco Giants

The St. Louis Cardinals couldn't support Chris Carpenter, who received yet another no-decision, but some late doubles from Albert Pujols and Allen Craig and a prototypical Skip Schumaker infield single proved to be just enough offense to outscore the San Francisco Giants 4-3 Tuesday. Beleaguered relief pitcher Ryan Franklin earned his first win of the season, striking out the side in a sterling eighth inning, while Fernando Salas picked up his 10th save of the season after not starting 2011 on the team's 25-man roster. 

Carpenter was effective but inefficient in his start, striking out eight while allowing just two runs but leaving after five innings and 103 pitches; the Cardinals will look for Wednesday's starter, Jake Westbrook, to go deep into the his start after being forced to use Jason Motte, Trever Miller, Franklin, Salas, Miguel Batista, and Brian Tallet in the last two games. 

Miguel Batista doubled and Cody Ross went 2-4 for the Giants, who fall to 29-25 on the season. Reclamation project Ryan Vogelsong, who's looked excellent in seven starts with the Giants after not playing in the Major Leagues since 2006, allowed one run in five innings for a no-decision. He spent 2007-2009 in Japan, playing for the Hanshin Tigers and Orix Buffaloes.