Mark Melancon gives up walk-off home run

San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy greets Joe Panik after the second baseman hit a fifth-inning solo home run a in game earlier this season on March 29.

the last time the Giants beat an NL Central club on the road, and that came before rookie Dereck Rodríguez joined the team. Rodríguez started Saturday’s game in St. Louis, firing six innings of tworun ball before disaster struck in the bottom of the seventh.

After Rodríguez walked Cardinals third baseman Jedd Gyorko on four pitches, veteran catcher Yadier Molina slammed a game-tying two-run homer to snap an impressive streak for the rookie pitcher. Prior to allowing four earned runs Saturday, Rodríguez had surrendered three runs or fewer in 16 straight outings including 15 starts.

“It doesn’t matter the situation, he goes after hitters,” Joe Panik said. “He has a presence on

the mound. Almost just a calmness.”

Panik became the eighth different Giants player to start at first base this season, making his professional debut at the position Saturday against Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright. A slew of injuries wiped out the Giants’ first base depth, so Panik played there for the first time since his T-ball team needed his services.

Manager Bruce Bochy said he wanted to load his lineup with lefties against Wainwright and play Panik and Alen Hanson at the same time, so the duo formed the starting combination on the right side of the infield.

Panik produced like a first baseman at the plate, piling up three hits and adding a walk in Saturday’s defeat.