rees on notice, Flanagan told Sky Sports Radios Big Sports Breakfast.

ST. LOUIS -- Chad Gaudin found himself in an unfamiliar position Sunday afternoon. The San Francisco right-hander took the mound to start a game for the first time in over three years and tossed six strong innings to lead the Giants to a 4-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals, ending the Giants seven-game road skid. Brandon Belt hit a two-run pinch-hit double to break a 2-2 tie in the seventh. Buster Posey, who entered the game in a 2 for 20 skid, went 4 for 4 with two doubles to pace an 11-hit attack. Gaudin (1-1), in his first start since Sept. 28, 2009 as a member of the New York Yankees, allowed four hits and two runs, both coming on David Freeses homer in the fourth. He struck out five and did not walk a batter. Gaudin, who set the side down in order in four of six innings, is temporarily replacing Ryan Vogelsong in the rotation. Vogelsong broke several bones in his right hand May 20. "It was nice," Gaudin said of the starting assignment, "I made a couple of minor league starts, but it was refreshing to get back out there and do that." San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said Gaudins performance came at a perfect time for his beleaguered staff. "He gave us a huge shot in the arm," he said. "He went out there and threw quality strikes and actually went a little further than we ever thought." Bochy said before the game that he was hoping to get four, maybe five innings from Gaudin. Instead, Gaudin rolled through six on 79 pitches, 55 strikes. In his first start after 117 successive relief appearances, Gaudin earned his first win since Oct. 2, 2012 when he was a reliever with the Miami Marlins. "I wanted to go out there and give the team a chance to win and also give them some innings," Gaudin said. "I thought I was throwing aggressively and pitching with what I had." The Giants offence, which had scored just seven runs in its previous six road games, gave Gaudin enough offensive support. Belt slammed the first pitch from reliever Randy Choate into the gap in left-centre to bring in Brandon Crawford and Gregor Blanco for a 4-2 lead in the seventh inning. Crawford began the rally with a single off St. Louis rookie Tyler Lyons (2-1). Closer Sergio Romo recorded four outs for his 15th save in 17 opportunities. He got Freese to ground out with Allen Craig on first to end the game. San Francisco scored single runs in the second and third off Lyons. Posey and Hunter Pence hit back-to-back doubles in the third. "I hit a couple balls hard that found a couple of holes," Posey said. "So now, its just a matter of keeping on." Posey raised his average 15 points to .308 with the four-hit effort. Freese tied the game with his third homer of the season. He has hit safely in a career-tying 12 successive games. "Im seeing the baseball and trying to consistently hit the ball hard somewhere," he said. "Its all about the approach at the plate." Lyons allowed four runs and eight hits in 6 2-3 innings in his third start. He allowed one run over seven innings in winning his two previous starts. "I was inconsistent from the beginning," Lyons said. "I was fighting myself, just trying my best to eat up a few innings." Despite the victory, the Giants have dropped six of their last eight.. "A much-needed win after yesterday," Bochy said. St. Louis beat the Giants 8-0 and 7-1 in a day-night doubleheader on Saturday. St. Louis manager Mike Matheny and catcher Yadier Molina were ejected in the third inning by first base umpire Clint Fagan after Molina was called out on a close play at first. Molina slammed his helmet to the ground after the call and was immediately thrown out for the third time in his career. Matheny came out to protect Molina and was ejected for the third time as a manager. "I know I was out," Molina said. "I was just upset with myself." NOTES: St. Louis has used eight pitchers age 25 and younger this season including Lyons, 25. .... The Cardinals host Arizona in a four-game series beginning Monday. Lance Lynn (7-1, 2.91) will face Trevor Cahill (3-5, 2.88). The Giants have an off day Monday before hosting Toronto in a two-game set starting Tuesday. Tim Lincecum (3-5, 5.12) goes against Josh Johnson (0-1, 6.86). San Francisco OF Angel Pagan missed his eighth successive game with a strained left hamstring. ... Giants IF Pablo Sandoval, who last played on Thursday, could be out as much as a week with a strain in his left foot. ... St. Louis OF Jon Jay broke out of a 1-for-27 skid with a third-inning single. ... St. Louis INF Matt Carpenter extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a single in the third inning.Cheap Custom Jerseys .35 million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration. Plouffe batted .254 with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs in 477 at-bats last season, his second as a regular in the lineup. Discount Custom Jerseys . -- Teemu Selanne scored the first goal of his 22nd NHL season, and the Anaheim Ducks extended the best start in franchise history with their fifth straight victory, 3-2 over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. http://www.collegejerseyscustom.com/ .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons. Custom College Jerseys Outlet . "Theyve both been real good," said Babcock. "Havent changed our minds." A decision has seemingly been made - Sundays Group B-deciding tilt against Finland ahead - but it could not have been an easy one. Price opened the tournament with a sturdy 19-save performance against the Norwegians, yielding just one goal. Wholesale Custom College Jerseys . Tests earlier this week revealed a Grade 2 left hamstring strain for Sabathia, who was hurt in last Fridays start against San Francisco. Its an injury that will require about eight weeks to heal. He finished a disappointing campaign just 14-13 with a career-worst 4.North Queensland coach Paul Green has turned up the heat on the whistleblowers ahead of Fridays NRL grand final qualifier, accusing Cronulla of abusing the 10 metres all year.Green backed Canberra mentor Ricky Stuarts stinging criticism of the Sharks, saying they were serial offenders when it came to jumping out early.Stuart on Wednesday fired a shot at the Sharks following their finals week one loss to Shane Flanagans side, accusing them of only standing back eight metres and wrestling the crap out of us on the ground.Flanagan on Thursday fired back, saying Stuart was just trying to influence the referees ahead of his sides preliminary final against Melbourne on Saturday night.However Stuart has received support from Green, who approached NRL referees boss Tony Archer after his sides last encounter with the Sharks to address concerns Cronulla were allowed to get away with too much in the ruck.The last game we played against (the Sharks) there was only three points in it and gee they were pretty quick out of the blocks that night, Green said.Following that I spoke to the referees about the 10 metres in particular and (Archer) probably felt the refs should have been a bit stronger on the 10 theree.ddddddddddddIm just hoping that they police that properly again because I think itll give us a good open game of footy that everyones going to enjoy.Flanagan was unfazed by Stuarts attack on his clubs playing style, believing his Canberra counterpart was only using the Sharks as a means to help his sides cause against Melbourne.For me its just a tactic of Sticky to put the referees on notice, Flanagan told Sky Sports Radios Big Sports Breakfast.Ricky doesnt want to talk about Melbournes wrestle so hes brought someone else up and just stated the point that he wants an open and care-free sort of game, not to be made about the wrestle on the ground.Melbourne have been at the centre of a wrestling controversy throughout this months finals campaign.North Queensland reportedly voiced their concern to the NRL after their first-week finals loss in Melbourne, during which Ethan Lowe suffered a season-ending neck injury.However the Storm have been adamant theyre doing nothing wrong and say they received assurances from the NRL there is no issue with their tackling technique. 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