MICHAEL WAGAMAN
Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Giants manager Bruce Bochy got another call overturned by replay, this time in the ninth inning.
It was about the only thing that went right for San Francisco’s offense.
A night after two-time NL Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum helped blank St. Louis, the Cardinals’ Adam Wainwright and two relievers returned the favor in a 2-0 win over the Giants.
It’s the third time in the past nine games San Francisco has been shut out. All of them have come at AT&T Park, where the Giants are just 2-7 on this current 10-game homestand.
“It’s all about putting some men on bases, creating those chances,” Bochy said. “Somebody’s gotta come through. We only had two or three decent chances and couldn’t get the hit.”
The Giants have been sputtering without leadoff hitter Angel Pagan. Pagan, on the DL with a lower back strain, will receive an epidural Thursday morning in Los Angeles before rejoining the team. He’ll rest through the weekend.
Even though first baseman Brandon Belt is expected to be activated from the DL when San Francisco opens a series in San Diego on Friday, Bochy plans to shake up his lineup. Gregor Blanco, hitting in the leadoff spot during Pagan’s absence, will be dropped down in the order, while Hunter Pence will move up to the top spot.
“That will tweak the lineup a little bit but we still gotta get some other guys going,” Bochy said. “It’s not just one guy.”
Wainwright allowed four hits over 7 2-3 innings and St. Louis, which has been dealing with its own slumping offense, scored just enough to make it stand up.
The closest the Giants came to scoring came in the eighth, when Tyler Colvin sent a drive to the wall in center field and defensive replacement Peter Bourjos hauled it in.
Joe Panik, who had two hits, was the lone Giant to venture past first base, reaching third with two outs in the sixth and again with two outs in the eighth.
“Those guys, they’ll start swinging it,” said losing pitcher Ryan Vogelsong. “You go through this stuff. You either get through it and get stronger or you don’t get through it and you finish in last. We’ll get through it.”
Vogelsong (5-5) gave up two runs on six hits over seven innings. He walked one and struck out eight.
It’s the second straight strong start for Vogelsong, who has a 2.08 ERA with a walk and 15 strikeouts over that span.
“I’m tired of talking about stuff,” Vogelsong said. “It’s all about wins and losses now and getting to the playoffs. It doesn’t matter what the stuff is.”
Wainwright (11-4) took over the NL lead in ERA (1.89) and wins. He walked two and struck out one and his infielders combined to record 18 outs.
Matt Carpenter had three hits and drove in a run, improving to .520 (26 for 50) against the Giants to help the Cardinals end a three-game losing streak. Matt Holliday added two hits and an RBI.
The Cardinals ended a 26-inning scoreless streak by scoring twice in the third. Oscar Tavares doubled and Mark Ellis singled. After a strikeout, Carpenter and Holliday each singled in runs.
Vogelsong retired 10 of the final 11 batters he faced, allowing one hit the rest of his outing.
“I was very pleased, and Vogey should be, at how he threw the ball,” Bochy said. “We needed a great effort going against one of the elite pitchers in the game and he gave us what we needed.”
Wainwright faced just two over the minimum until Panik singled with two outs in the eighth. Pinch-hitter Hector Sanchez also singled and Pat Neshek came on to get Gregor Blanco to pop out to end the end.
Trevor Rosenthal came on to record the final three outs for his 25th save in 28 chances after giving up an infield hit to Hunter Pence to start the ninth. Pence was originally ruled out, but the call was reversed following a review.
NOTES: RHP Carlos Martinez (1-3, 4.13) gets the start for the Cardinals on Thursday, his fourth straight and fifth overall. The Cardinals are unbeaten in his first three starts. … LHP Madison Bumgarner (9-5, 2.90) starts for the Giants in the series finale. He’s 3-3 in six career starts against the Cardinals. … IF Marco Scutaro (lower back) continues to increase his playing time in the Arizona Rookie League.
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