Molina’s homer pushes Cardinals past Giants 4-3

But there’s little any skipper can do if he has to run a pitcher out there to hit with the game on the line.

It was Bumgarner’s first career pinch hit, and showed precisely why the Giants are still a threat to make the postseason.

Piscotty has six hits over the last three games, including two doubles and a homer. 1B Matt Adams (quad) is running near full speed and leaves for Florida to begin baseball activities Friday.

The ball got here off pinch-hitter ‘s bat with an arc that advised a go-ahead, two-out, two-run homer within the prime of the ninth inning.

Mike Lamb struck a homer within the next inning that set the Diamondbacks assisted and ahead 4-0 snapped the Pirates’ four-game-winning streak. 500 for the first time since June 23.

Cain found a rhythm after Piscotty’s homer and retired 10 of the last 11 men he faced, leaving with a 3-2 lead.

Neither starter was involved in the decision. He missed his previous turn in the rotation last week with a groin injury. The Cardinals keep a five game lead over Pittsburgh, with their 77th win of the season. Saturday marked the 27th anniversary of the first scheduled night game at Wrigley Field.

MARLINS 6, BREWERS 2 Rookie left-hander Justin Nicolino pitched 6 2/3 solid innings and Derek Dietrich homered as Miami beat host Milwaukee. He appeared he would come off the disabled list and start August 18 at St. Louis.

Ross pitched six innings, allowing a run on six hits. The Cubs’ ace allowed seven runs in 2 2-3. This happened with two outs and no one on base.

Brian McCann went in five runs homered and sliced a glove within the 10th that put up the successful misplay. Yadier Molina threw out Kelby Tomlinson trying to steal second base. The Giants went on to win the game 2-0, and have now won 6 of their last 8.

The Twins, contending for a wild card, lost to begin a 10-game trip that will later take them to Baltimore and Tampa Bay.

Molina has two homers in the past three games.

Asdrubal Cabrera included three RBIs for that Rays, who returned after being taken by Arizona in a three-sport weekend series.

He is 0-2 with an 8.24 ERA in that span. According to game score it was the sixth best starting pitching performance this season, but nearly more impressive for the pitcher was his day at the plate.

The Cardinals are 48-20 when they hit at least one home run.

Rea got all the backing he needed when the Padres scored three runs on four hits off William Perez (4-4) in the second inning.

The Los Angeles Angels edged the Chicago White Sox 2-1 with C.J. Cron hitting a tiebreaking home run in the seventh inning.

Although Bumgarner’s single won’t land him in any top plays segments, that the Giants can use him like this gives them a huge advantage over other teams. The right-hander served up a homer on his first pitch Thursday, but that was the only run he allowed while equaling his career high with eight strikeouts in five innings of a 3-1 win over Washington.