SAN FRANCISCO — For the third time in four games, the Cardinals’ uncoiling offense saw chilled bats continue to thaw, production from top to tail end, and it scored at least seven runs.
Such depth still could not overcome what San Francisco produced on three swings.
The Giants, scrambling to split a series and gift a victory to retired catcher Buster Posey on his day at Oracle Park, got a grand slam in the first inning and two more home runs in the second. They bombarded Cardinals starter Steven Matz with eight runs on those three homers and then kept a step ahead of the Cardinals to win, 13-7, on Saturday.