BY DANIEL GLUSKOTER
Pablo Sandoval blasted a three-run homer into McCovey Cove and had five RBI’s as the Giants pounded out 17 hits to prevail in a four hour slugfest with the St. Louis Cardinals Sunday afternoon at AT&T Park.
San Francisco’s 13-8 win salvaged a split of the four-game series for the Giants and moved them to within 3 1/2 Games of the first place Arizona Diamondbacks in the hotly contested NL West race.
Giants starter Madison Bumgarner was shaky, allowing four earned runs in 5 1/3 innings, but benefited from some long overdue offensive support to improve his injury shortened season record to 2-3.
San Francisco rookie Steven Duggar, batting leadoff and playing centerfield in his Major League debut just hours after being called up from Triple-A Sacramento, had a pair of hits including a double and scored a run in the Giants five run sixth inning outburst.
The Giants return to action Monday night as the Chicago Cubs come to town for the first of a three game series. Kyle Hendricks (5-8, 4.27) takes the mound for the Cubs against Andrew Suarez (3-5, 3.92) with the first pitch scheduled for 7:15PM.