Post Game 157 of 162 SFG 5 - STL 6

First game of 3. Verlander will be toeing the rubber.SF enters today having lost seven of their last nine games and 10 of their last 15.Over its last nine games, SF is averaging 3.6 runs/game while logging a .172 battingaverage and a .530 OPS...for comparison, in its 11 games prior, SF was scoring 6.8 runsper game while batting .286 with an .860 OPS.Prior to leaving for the road trip, the Giants sat 1.5 games behind the Mets for the finalNL Wild Card spot...entering play today, SF stands 3.0 games back of the Mets and Redsas well as 2.0 games behind of the Diamondbacks for the final NL WC spot.