SAN FRANCISCO — After back-to-back games when they squeezed one run from nine innings of opportunity, the Cardinals did a remix of their lineup and, as a new rhythm took hold, introduced a hitter they once thought was going to be part of their season all along.
Since rookie Juan Yepez has joined the Cardinals lineup, they had consecutive romps for a total of 17 runs in two games, and on Friday night, late as the fog rolled in over Oracle Park, the newcomer showed how he can help in tighter games too.
Yepez struck for a one-out double down the third-base line in the ninth inning and put in motion the Cardinals’ tie-breaking rally. Rookie Brendan Donovan pinch-ran for Yepez at second, and when Dylan Carlson laced a single to center the base hit Yepez had became the run the Cardinals needed to edge San Francisco, 3-2. Carlson had entered as a defensive replacement late in the game before delivering the offense that decided the game.
