Giants Blow Early Lead, Fall to Cardinals 6-3

ST. LOUIS — A sixth-inning meltdown Sunday night washed away all the positives built up by Jake Peavy early on and gave the Giants their first series loss in nearly a month.Peavy, the bullpen, and an ill-timed error put the first six Cardinals on base in the decisive inning. The Giants blew an early lead and fell 6-3 at Busch Stadium. They've lost back-to-back games for the first time since May 9-10, when they dropped a series at home against the Blue Jays. Pittsburg, CA vs. Pittsburgh, PA on the Ice For five innings the Giants looked like they were headed for one of the more bizarre wins of the season. Peavy was shutting down a tough Cardinals lineup. Carlos Martinez had great stuff, but he gave up a two-run homer to Jarrett Parker in the fourth on a ball nobody thought was clearing the wall. Parker appeared to think it was headed foul before it crept over the wall 363 feet away and Martinez scrunched his face up in confusion.Headed for a third straight strong start, Peavy unraveled quickly. He had a 3-1 lead entering the sixth but was pulled after two doubles and a walk. Hunter Strickland entered and his only pitch hit a batter. Javier Lopez entered and got Matt Adams to...