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Giants throttle Cards behind Huff's three homers

Jun 3, 2011 - 5:55 AM St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Aubrey Huff recorded his first career three- home run game and posted six RBI as San Francisco outslugged St. Louis, 12-7, in the finale of a four-game set from Busch Stadium.

"It's kinda on your mind, but you don't expect it," Huff said. "They were all pretty good pitches. It's a pretty good feeling."

Freddy Sanchez added a three-run blast and drove in four for the Giants, who took three of four in the series. Andres Torres contributed three hits and drove in two as the defending champs reached double digits for the first time since April 2.

Jonathan Sanchez (4-3) allowed four hits and three runs over 5 1/3 innings for the win. His lead-off ground-rule double kick-started an eight-run rally in the sixth and seventh innings.

Colby Rasmus hit a grand slam and drove in a career-high six runs for the Cardinals, who have dropped four of their last six.

In his major-league debut, Lance Lynn (0-1) was tagged for four hits and five runs over 5 1/3 frames. He fanned five and did not walk a batter.

Down 3-2, Sanchez the starter aided his cause with a one-hopper over the wall in left-center to start the sixth, then scored when Torres followed with a base hit. Miguel Tejada singled, then advanced on a throw to third before a Freddy Sanchez groundout plated the go-ahead run.

Trever Miller came on for Lynn, but promptly gave up an RBI single to Huff to make it 5-3. He served up ground-rule double to Cody Ross but retired Brandon Crawford to limit the damage.

In the next frame, Torres doubled in Eli Whiteside with two on in the seventh against Maikel Cleto, and after a groundout advanced the runners into scoring position, Sanchez the infielder ripped a three-run shot to right for a 9-3 Giants edge. Huff followed with a solo shot to put the visitors into double digits.

In the home half, Guillermo Mota gave up two singles and a walk to load the bases with one out and Rasmus cut the Cards' deficit to 10-7 with a long blast to right.

"It just feels good," Rasmus said of his night at the plate. "Just about all of those pitches I saw, I was just trying to put good swings on the ball."

Huff capped his big night with a two-out, two-run homer in the ninth and Jeremy Affeldt worked two scoreless innings for his first save.

Allen Craig's RBI double got the Cards on the board in the first, then in the third, Craig and Yadier Molina worked consecutive one-out walks before Rasmus drove both in with a triple.

Lynn retired the first 10 men he faced, but plunked Tejada with one down in the fourth and gave up a two-run homer to Huff.

Game Notes

Huff has 13 career multi-homer games and became the first Giant to hit three homers in one contest since J.T. Snow at Philadelphia on August 13, 2004...Rasmus hit his second career grand slam...Prior to the game, the Cardinals placed outfielder Matt Holliday and pitcher Kyle McClellan on the 15-day disabled list, and recalled both Lynn and Cleto from the minors...The two rookie hurlers were the first to make their big league debut in the same game for St. Louis since Frank Cimorelli and Bryan Eversgerd on April 30, 1994...Both teams are in action on Friday, as the Giants return home to open up a lengthy homestand by hosting Colorado, and the Cardinals welcomed the Cubs.