ST. LOUIS - Drew Gilbert waited until extra innings, then ended the afternoon in one swing.
The Giants outfielder, pinch-hitting and staying in center field, launched a two-run home run in the 10th off Riley O'Brien that scored Grant McCray from second and lifted San Francisco to a 6-5 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday at Busch Stadium.
The Associated Press, ESPN and CBS Sports all place the homer in the 10th - Gilbert's 10th of the season per the CBS box - and frame it as the swing that won the three-game series.
Gilbert finished 1-for-1 with two RBI. McCray had pinch-run for Bryce Eldridge and was aboard when Gilbert connected. San Francisco improved to 7-6 in extra-inning games; St. Louis fell to 8-8. The Giants are 64-89; the Cardinals are 75-78. For a club buried in the National League West standings, a series win on the road still counts as a clean afternoon's work.
A ninth that refused to stay quiet
The Cardinals had already forced extras. Dylan Smith blew his fifth save in the ninth, allowing two runs as St. Louis tied the game at 4-4. Nolan Gorman walked to lead off. Thomas Saggese reached on an infield single. After a walk to pinch-hitter Iván Herrera, José Fermín's sacrifice fly and Leo Bernal's single pulled the Cardinals even, the AP recounted.
Reiver Sanmartín (3-0) recorded the final out of the ninth for the win. Joel Kuhnel earned his eighth save in the 10th despite a sacrifice fly to Saggese that made the final 6-5. The bullpen dance was messy. Gilbert's homer made the mess moot by putting San Francisco ahead before the Cardinals could answer fully.