Cardinals muster just two hits in 2-0 loss to Giants

ST. LOUIS -- Ryan Vogelsong pitched six innings of two-hit ball and ace Madison Bumgarner keyed a seventh-inning rally with his first career pinch hit, helping the San Francisco Giants beat the St. Louis Cardinals 2-0 on Tuesday night.

Brandon Crawford doubled leading off the fifth for the Giants' first hit when left fielder Brandon Moss couldn't quite hold onto his drive down the line near both walls. He also had a run-scoring groundout in the sixth for the first run.

The Giants have won six of eight and handed the Cardinals, who got a strong rebound outing from Lance Lynn, just their 19th home loss compared with 45 wins.

The teams have combined for five runs the first two games of a three-game series.

Vogelsong (9-8) struck out five and walked one while throwing 101 pitches. It was his third straight start in place of Mike Leake, who was acquired at the non-waiver trade deadline, but has been sidelined by a hamstring injury.

Bumgarner is 1 for 5 as a pinch hitter for his career after cashing in on his first chance this year, collecting a two-out single in the seventh. The 14-game winner shut out the Nationals on Sunday and also hit his fourth homer of the season.

Lynn (9-8) was lifted after walking Gregor Blanco and Matt Duffy to load the bases, and Randy Choate hit Brandon Belt to force in Bumgarner for a 2-0 lead. Seth Maness then struck out Buster Posey for the final out.

Lynn allowed four hits in 6 2-3 innings, five days after the shortest start of his career when he recorded just two outs in a loss to Pittsburgh. He walked a season-high five, one intentional.

Santiago Casilla worked the ninth for his 29th save in 34 chances, finishing the two-hitter.

Threat of heavy rain that never really materialized delayed the start for 31 minutes.ON THE BOARD

San Francisco left fielder Ryan Lollis, a 37th-round draft pick out of Missouri in 2009, singled in the eighth for his first career hit.

Trainer's room

Giants: Outfielder Hunter Pence underwent an MRI exam for a left oblique injury sustained on a fly out in the ninth on Monday.

Cardinals: Outfielder Jason Heyward was out of the lineup, but the injury was not believed to be serious, perhaps just cramping, and he could return soon.

Up next

San Francisco's Matt Cain (2-3, 6.05 ERA) is 0-2 with an 8.24 ERA in his last four outings. Jaime Garcia (5-4, 1.57 ERA) was the first member of the Cardinals rotation to pitch into the ninth his last time out.