Adams, bullpen star as Cards top Giants

ST. LOUIS — Matt Adams, sent up as a pinch-hitter with two on and two out in the eighth inning of a 3-3 game Friday game, looked behind him toward the dugout at Busch Stadium when the San Francisco Giants brought in left-hander Tony Watson, who had fanned Adams six times in 11 career at-bats with just two Adams hits to offset those whiffs.

But right-handed-batting Yairo Munoz, who might have hit for Adams, had to come into the game at second base in the top of the inning when Kolten Wong left with cramping. The Cardinals were left with three right-handed options — backup catchers Francisco Pena and Carson Kelly and rookie Adolis Garcia, who was 2-for-16.

So Adams stayed. And Adams starred. Adams hit a two-run double past third baseman Even Longoria to drive in both Harrison Bader and Munoz as the Cardinals remained on the right path to the wild card with a 5-3 win over the Giants.

One of the advantages of a 14-man bullpen for September play is that none of the relievers should be all that tired and you can use them as early as you want to. Exhibit A is the Cardinals’ relief corps, pressed into service beginning in the third inning Friday night after starter John Gant had walked three consecutive San Francisco batsmen to force in the tying run.

Veteran Tyson Ross, who hadn’t pitched in eight days, entered the inning to record a strikeout to end the inning and fanned three more while pitching 21/3 scoreless innings. Rookie Dakota Hudson, who had worked only 12/3 innings in a week, struck all three men he faced in the seventh.

Fireballer Jordan Hicks, who had pitched only twice in 12 days, gave up two runs in the seventh but John Brebbia, used only twice since last Thursday, also struck out the side in the Giants’ eighth. And Carlos Martinez, celebrating his 27th birthday, recorded his fourth save as a sellout crowd of 45,892 got its money’s worth.