SAN FRANCISCO -- His team slumping and showing signs of fatigue, Giants manager Bruce Bochy cancelled batting practice Thursday and told players not to report until about two hours before game time. Johnny Cueto, the night’s starting pitcher, said he arrived at AT&T Park around 5:10 p.m.
"And I thought I was late," Cueto said.
The performance he gave was right on time.
Cueto threw a complete game and drove in the go-ahead run as the Giants beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 6-2, in the opener of a four-game series with real playoff implications. The Giants moved to a game ahead of the Mets in the wild-card race and two games ahead of the Cardinals, and also gained on the Dodgers, whom they trial by four games.