Jordan Walker’s 2-Run Double in 9th Lifts Cardinals Over Giants

The St. Louis Cardinals pulled off a dramatic ninth-inning rally to stun the San Francisco Giants 3-2. This one felt like classic baseball—tense, unpredictable, and just a little bit wild.

Even with veteran ace Justin Verlander pitching like he turned back the clock, the Cardinals wouldn’t fold. Jordan Walker’s game-winning two-run double stole the spotlight and capped off a comeback that left Giants fans in shock. San Francisco’s home run streak? Gone, just like that.

Cardinals’ Ninth-Inning Heroics

The Cardinals trailed 2-0 heading into the ninth. They needed a spark, and they got it.

Giants reliever Ryan Walker tried to close out the game but immediately ran into trouble. Nolan Gorman and Masyn Wynn singled, and a hit-by-pitch to Jimmy Crooks loaded the bases with nobody out.

Thomas Saggese stepped in with the tension thick in the air. He came through with a clutch RBI, slicing the deficit in half.

Jordan Walker Seals the Deal

Then it was Jordan Walker’s turn. Maybe the biggest at-bat of the night, no doubt.

Walker drilled a two-run double into the gap. The Cardinals suddenly led 3-2, and the Giants looked stunned. Walker’s calm under pressure and raw power completely flipped the game for St. Louis.

Verlander’s Historic Night Overshadowed

Before all the chaos, Justin Verlander owned the night. At 41, in his 20th MLB season, he just keeps going.

Verlander tossed six scoreless innings, punched out six, and didn’t walk anyone. He passed Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry for eighth on the all-time strikeout list, now sitting at 3,536 career punchouts.

He gave up just three hits and threw only 88 pitches. That’s the kind of efficiency and dominance that’s defined his career.

A Tough Loss for the Giants Bullpen

The bullpen just couldn’t hold up after Verlander exited. Ryan Walker ended up with his sixth blown save of the season.

The Cardinals’ hitters jumped on missed spots and made the Giants pay. This one stings, especially since San Francisco was so close to another shutout win.

Early Offense from the Giants

The Giants got on the board in the fourth against Cardinals starter Andre Pallante. Casey Schmitt lifted a sacrifice fly for the first run.

Then Drew Gilbert ripped an RBI double, giving San Francisco a 2-0 lead. Pallante settled down, though, finishing six innings with just two runs allowed on five hits. He kept St. Louis within reach.

Historic Streak Comes to an End

The Giants’ streak of 18 straight games with a home run finally ended. They finished just one shy of the franchise record from 1947.

No late insurance runs from the long ball meant San Francisco’s offense sputtered. That opened the door for the Cardinals’ rally.

Key Takeaways

This game really shows how unpredictable baseball can get. For the Cardinals, it was all about resilience and clutch hitting.

The Giants, though, learned the hard way about closing out games when the other team just won’t quit.

• Jordan Walker played the hero with a two-run double in the last inning.
• Justin Verlander moved past Gaylord Perry for eighth place on the all-time strikeouts list.
• Ryan Walker notched his sixth blown save this season.
• The Giants’ 18-game home run streak ended.
• Andre Pallante kept St. Louis close with a steady six-inning start.

Games like this can shift momentum in a hurry. Maybe this comeback sparks a run for the Cardinals, but the Giants have to regroup fast to avoid more bullpen trouble.

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