Lars Nootbaar helps the Cardinals get past the Giants

Lars Nootbaar hit a home run, a triple and a three-run drive as the visiting Cardinals cruised to a 6-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants in the opening game of a three-game season-ending series on Friday night.

Masyn Wynn doubled, had a single and scored twice for St. Louis (82-78), giving St. Louis a winning record for the 16th time in the past 17 seasons.

The Giants (79-81), now no longer guaranteed a winning season, hit a two-run home run by Jerar Encarnacion, his fifth, and an RBI double by Mike Yastrzemski in a three-run second to give the hosts one The lead was 3:1.

Nootbaar halved the deficit with his 12th home run, a solo shot, in the third inning, and the Cardinals took the lead for good with four runs in their fourth.

Winn doubled with one out to tie the score, Alec Burleson hit a single off Winn to put St. Louis on top, and after Nolan Arenado's ground-rule double ended Landen Roupp's night, Nootbaar blasted his triple to center field and increased to 6:3.

Roupp (1-2) gave up six runs and nine hits in 3 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out four.

Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas (10-11) allowed three runs and seven hits in five innings, with four strikeouts and one walk.

John King, Andrew Kittredge, Matthew Liberatore and Ryan Helsley recorded the final 12 outs. Helsley gave up one hit and struck out two for his 49th save.

Arenado finished the game with a double and two singles for the Cardinals, who have won five of their last six games. Jordan Walker contributed with a double and a single, and Ivan Herrera had two singles.

Yastrzemski, Michael Conforto and Brett Wisely each scored twice for the Giants, who haven't had a winning season since 2021.

–Field level media