SAN FRANCISCO — Clawing through every inning like its quicksand and sturdier earth remains out of reach, the Cardinals surfaced in the eighth inning late Tuesday night for a deep, replenishing gulp of rare air.
Paul Goldschmidt smashed a hotshot grounder that ricocheted off the shortstop’s glove and landed somewhere in left field, just far enough for the Cardinals to score twice and grasp a lead, their first of the week against San Francisco at Oracle Park. The Giants’ infielders were playing in close when Goldschmidt’s 110.2-mph laser bashed past the shortstop.
It appeared, quite literally, like the Cardinals finally had their breakthrough.