SAN FRANCISCO (Interstat) — In a wild, back-and-forth affair that defied pregame projections and saw a combined 26 hits, the St. Louis Cardinals outlasted the San Francisco Giants 9-8 on Tuesday night at Oracle Park.

The game, which lasted 3 hours and 8 minutes before a crowd of 37,012, was a stark contrast to the pitchers’ duel anticipated by statistical models. The teams combined for 17 runs, far exceeding the over/under line of 7.5, with the Cardinals’ offense erupting for 15 hits to secure their second straight victory in the series.

St. Louis wasted no time, ambushing Giants ace Logan Webb for three runs in the first inning. Brendan Donovan set the tone with a leadoff double, and the Cardinals strung together three more hits, including an RBI single from Alec Burleson. Nolan Arenado then grounded into a double play that allowed another run to score, and Lars Nootbaar capped the rally with a double before scoring on a Thomas Saggese single.

Webb settled in after the rocky start, holding the Cardinals scoreless over the next five innings to keep San Francisco in the game. His effort allowed the Giants’ offense to mount a comeback.

San Francisco exploded for five runs in the bottom of the third inning, capitalizing on a costly error to erase the early deficit. The inning began with a single from Patrick Bailey and a walk to Christian Koss before Drew Gilbert loaded the bases with another single. Heliot Ramos then hit a sharp grounder to third baseman Nolan Arenado, whose throwing error allowed two runs to score. Willy Adames followed with an RBI single, Matt Chapman lifted a sacrifice fly, and Jung Hoo Lee capped the big inning with a run-scoring single to give the Giants a 5-3 lead.

The Giants added to their lead in the fifth inning against Cardinals reliever Chris Roycroft. Matt Chapman doubled and later scored on a double by Bailey. Christian Koss then singled home Bailey to extend the San Francisco advantage to 7-3.

The momentum shifted dramatically in the top of the seventh inning against Giants reliever Ryan Walker. After Jordan Walker doubled and Victor Scott II walked, Brendan Donovan struck out, bringing Iván Herrera to the plate. Herrera launched a three-run home run to center field, his 19th of the season, to pull the Cardinals within a run. Two batters later, Arenado redeemed his earlier error by crushing a solo shot to left field, his 11th, to tie the game at 8-8.

San Francisco had briefly taken an 8-5 lead in the sixth when Heliot Ramos hit a solo home run, his 20th of the year.

The Cardinals secured the winning run in the ninth inning. Scott II singled and was replaced by pinch-runner José Fermín. Donovan, who had a spectacular night at the plate, continued his torrid hitting by lashing his fourth hit of the game, a double that scored Fermín. Alec Burleson followed with an RBI single to provide a critical insurance run.

Matt Svanson earned the win for St. Louis after pitching a scoreless eighth inning, improving his record to 4-0. Ryan Walker took the loss for San Francisco, falling to 5-7 after surrendering the four runs in the seventh.

The Giants threatened in the bottom of the ninth against Cardinals closer Riley O’Brien. Willy Adames doubled with one out, bringing the potential tying run to the plate. O’Brien, however, struck out Matt Chapman and Wilmer Flores to end the game, earning his sixth save of the season.

Brendan Donovan led the Cardinals’ offensive barrage, going 4 for 5 with three doubles, an RBI, and two runs scored. Iván Herrera provided the key blow with his three-run homer, finishing 2 for 4 with three RBIs.

For the Giants, Heliot Ramos went 2 for 5 with a home run, and Patrick Bailey added two hits, including a double.

The victory improves the Cardinals’ record to 78-80, while the Giants fall to 77-81. The two teams will conclude their three-game series on Wednesday. St. Louis will then travel to Chicago for a three-game set against the Cubs starting Friday, while San Francisco will host the Colorado Rockies for a three-game weekend series beginning the same day. The Cardinals have now won five of the last six meetings between the two clubs this season.