Giants vs. Cardinals, NLCS Game 4 recap: Cardinals pound Giants, 8-3, take 3-1 series lead

The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the San Francisco Giants, 8-1, to take a 3-1 lead in the National League Championship series. The Cardinals got to Giants starter Tim Lincecum in the first inning, taking a 2-0 lead before the Giants responded with a run of their own in the second inning. It was all Cardinals and Adam Wainwright after that.

It appeared Lincecum had settled down after the second inning, throwing hitless third and fourth innings, before Matt Carpenter doubled to center and Matt Holliday singled to right, scoring Carpenter. Yadier Molina then singled to center, which allowed Holliday to score, making it 4-1 Cardinals in the fifth inning. Lincecum was taken out after allowing four earned runs in 4 2/3 innings.

The Giants looked like they would respond in the top sixth when Angel Pagan and Marco Scutaro singled, putting two runners on with one out. Buster Posey then flied out to deep right and Pablo Sandoval grounded out to kill the Giants' rally. A Jon Jay double in the sixth inning scored Daniel Descalso and Pete Kozma, making it 6-1 Cardinals. The Cardinals tacked on two more runs in the seventh inning.

Sandoval hit a two-run home run in the top of the ninth before Hector Sanchez and Hunter Pence recorded to final two outs of the game.

The Giants now turn to Barry Zito to extend their season on the road for the second time during the 2012 playoffs. Game 5 is Friday night at 5 p.m. PT.