have lost five of six
Sonny Gray Dominates as Cardinals Defeat Giants in Close Game
Sonny Gray put on a pitching clinic on Sunday, taking a no-hit bid into the sixth inning and leading the St. Louis Cardinals to a 4-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants. The win leaves the Giants four games behind for the last NL wild card spot.
Gray, who now holds a 13-8 record, was in top form as he allowed only two hits and four walks in 5 1/3 innings, while striking out six batters. However, he faced some trouble in the sixth inning when he walked his first two batters, but managed to strike out Heliot Ramos before giving up an RBI single to Rafael Devers.
The Cardinals’ bullpen also played a crucial role in securing the win, with Riley O’Brien allowing only one hit in the ninth inning and retiring Patrick Bailey on a game-ending double-play grounder to earn his third save of the season. The Giants were limited to just five hits in the game.
The loss is a tough blow for the Giants, who are now four games behind the New York Mets for the third and final NL wild card spot. With a record of 72-71, the Giants are still in the hunt for their first postseason appearance since 2021, but will need to turn things around quickly in order to secure a spot in the playoffs. They have now lost five of their last six games.
Giants Fall Short in Playoff Push, Lose to Cardinals 4-2
By The Associated Press
Sep. 08, 2025 | 06:54 AM | ST. LOUIS – The San Francisco Giants’ hopes for a postseason appearance took a hit on Sunday as they fell to the St. Louis Cardinals 4-2.
In a game that started off with a strong pitching performance from Cardinals’ starter Sonny Gray, the Giants struggled to get their offense going. Gray allowed only two hits and four walks in 5 1/3 innings, striking out six batters. However, the Giants were able to break through in the sixth inning with an RBI single from Rafael Devers.
The Cardinals’ bullpen held strong, with Riley O’Brien closing out the game and earning his third save of the season. The Giants’ offense was unable to mount a comeback, despite a strong effort from starting pitcher Kai-Wei Teng, who matched his career high of eight strikeouts.
The Giants now sit four games behind the New York Mets for the final NL wild card spot, with a record of 72-71. They have lost two straight games after a hot streak of 11 wins in 12 games.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals continue to hold a strong record of 14-5 when Gray starts at home. They were able to capitalize on Teng’s struggles in the fifth inning, scoring four runs with the help of walks and timely hits from Lars Nootbaar, Iván Herrera, and Nolan Gorman.
The Giants will look to bounce back on Monday night as they face the Arizona Diamondbacks, with Logan Webb taking the mound. The Cardinals will travel to Seattle to take on the Mariners, with Miles Mikolas scheduled to start.
Despite the loss, the Giants can take solace in the fact that they are still in the playoff race and have a strong chance of making their first postseason appearance since 2021. However, they will need to regroup and come back stronger in their upcoming games to secure a spot in the playoffs.
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
