Yadier Molina homered for his first RBI of the season, connecting on a slider leading off the third inning, Tommy Edman hit a two-run single and another RBI single, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the stumbling San Francisco Giants 7-1 Thursday night.
Edman singled in the fifth to back right-hander Miles Mikolas (2-1) and again in the Cardinals’ four-run seventh. Tyler O’Neill added a two-run single that inning.
Mikolas allowed one run on seven hits, struck out three and walked three over 5 2/3 innings.
St. Louis plans to decide Saturday whether RHP Jack Flaherty is ready to throw a bullpen as he rehabs his troublesome pitching shoulder that has a small tear.
RHP Jordan Hicks (1-2, 3.65 ERA) pitches for St. Louis in the second game of the four-game weekend series opposite RHP Alex Cobb (1-1, 5.40), 8:20 with the pregame and the first pitch at 9:15 on KIRX.
First place Milwaukee leads second place St. Louis by 2 1/2 games, third place Pirates are 7 games out, fourth place Chicago is 8 games out.