What we learned as fifth inning dooms Giants in series-finale loss to Cardinals

BOX SCORESAN FRANCISCO — The Giants had a good road trip, but given their place in the NL playoff standings, they really needed it to be great.A comeback attempt fell short Sunday in St. Louis as the Giants lost 4-3, finishing with a series loss to the Cardinals after sweeping the Colorado Rockies. On back-to-back days, they failed to capitalize on losses by the New York Mets. The hottest lineup in the league got off to a slow start Sunday. Sonny Gray had a no-hitter going until the sixth, when he issued back-to-back walks to the bottom of the lineup. With one out, he hung a changeup to Rafael Devers, and the 104 mph single up the middle got the Giants on the board and ended the no-hit bid. Gray wouldn’t make it out of the inning. The Giants trailed 4-0 before Devers’ single, but Dominic Smith and Matt Chapman got two more runs back with singles of their own. They wouldn’t score again. Casey Schmitt blooped a single to lead off the ninth but right fielder Nathan Church made a diving catch to rob Drew Gilbert and keep the Giants from putting runners on the corners with no outs. Patrick Bailey‘s double play ended the game and dropped the...