The San Francisco Giants trailed the St. Louis Cardinals by five runs and looked dead in the water Wednesday night at Oracle Park. They weren't. San Francisco mounted one of the more stunning comebacks of the 2026 regular season, scoring enough runs to stun St. Louis 7-6 in nine innings on September 9. Bryce Eldridge drove in three, Jung Hoo Lee added two more, and a shaky Cardinals bullpen ultimately handed the Giants a win that few saw coming when the fifth inning ended.

Giants Offense Rallies to Erase Five-Run Deficit

The Cardinals built their lead behind a dominant start from Andre Pallante, who held San Francisco to one earned run on five hits across five innings, striking out four without issuing a walk. St. Louis further padded its advantage on a Leo Bernal home run — a three-RBI shot that put the game seemingly out of reach.

But the Cardinals bullpen unraveled late. Cade Winquest allowed four earned runs in just two-thirds of an inning, giving up two hits and a walk before being pulled. George Soriano couldn't stop the bleeding, surrendering three hits and two more earned runs in a third of an inning to take the loss. By the time the dust settled, the Giants had pushed across seven runs total and owned a one-run lead they would not relinquish.

Eldridge went 2-for-4 with three RBI, providing the biggest offensive punch for San Francisco. Lee was nearly as productive, going 2-for-4 with two RBI. Christian Koss contributed a pair of hits in three at-bats, helping keep innings alive during the comeback.

Cardinals' Key Offensive Contributors

  • Leo Bernal: 1-for-4, one home run, three RBI
  • Nolan Gorman: 2-for-4, one RBI

Turning Point: Cardinals Bullpen Collapses in Final Innings

The game turned decisively when Winquest entered and could not record outs cleanly. Four earned runs in two-thirds of an inning effectively gave the Giants the lead they needed. Soriano's subsequent appearance only compounded the damage, with San Francisco's hitters refusing to let the moment pass. It was the kind of bullpen implosion that transforms a lopsided game into a memorable win for the home side.

Giants Pitching Holds the Line After Rough Start

Blade Tidwell struggled as the starter, allowing four earned runs on five hits in four innings with two strikeouts and two walks. The Giants needed their bullpen to carry the remaining five innings, and it delivered. Philip Abner went two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out one. Matt Wilkinson followed with two more scoreless frames — two hits allowed, two strikeouts, no walks — and earned the win. Trent Harris closed it out in the ninth, allowing one hit but keeping St. Louis off the board to earn the save.

Giants Pitching Summary

  • Blade Tidwell: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
  • Philip Abner: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
  • Matt Wilkinson (W): 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
  • Trent Harris (SV): 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

What's Next for the Giants

San Francisco will look to build on this result as the 2026 regular season continues. The Giants will need more consistency from their starting pitching — Tidwell's four-inning, four-run outing pushed the bullpen hard — but Wednesday's rally demonstrated real offensive resilience. The Cardinals will regroup and look to avoid another late-game collapse in their next opportunity.