The St. Louis Cardinals secured a 6-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Sunday, with Brendan Donovan hitting a solo homer in the third inning and adding an RBI single later in the game. Alec Burleson contributed three runs batted in to help lead the Cardinals to victory. José Fermín also chipped in with an RBI single in the sixth. The Cardinals received outstanding pitching from rookie right-hander Michael McGreevy, who struck out six batters and allowed only one run on five hits over eight impressive innings.
The Giants’ Hayden Birdsong had a strong performance on the mound, striking out a total of 11 batters in the game. Despite the efforts of Birdsong, the Giants fell short against the Cardinals. San Francisco finished the season with an 80-82 record under manager Bob Melvin, slightly improving on their 2020 season.
In a touching moment, Giants’ third baseman Matt Chapman received a warm ovation from the crowd when he was replaced in the third inning. Chapman, who recently signed a significant contract extension, started 153 games for the Giants this season. Right fielder Mike Yastrzemski also received cheers from the crowd when he was substituted in the sixth inning.
The Cardinals, who missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season, finished with an 83-79 record. The team had a road record of 39-42 and concluded their season in San Francisco for the first time since 1960.
On the injury front, Cardinals’ Nolan Arenado sat out the final game of the season, while Giants’ Mark Canha was placed on the injured list with a right thumb sprain. Additionally, Giants’ Heliot Ramos was sidelined with a hamstring injury and plantar fasciitis.
Looking ahead, the Giants will open their Cactus League play against former manager Bruce Bochy and the Texas Rangers on February 22, 2025, in Surprise, Arizona. Meanwhile, the Cardinals will face the Marlins in Jupiter, Florida on the same day.
