Strength in numbers: Cards swat four homers

ST. LOUIS — What was once an offense that had to peck away, one that required so many hits to produce a big inning, muscled up again on Saturday to lift the Cardinals to a 7-4 win over the Giants.

Those labor-intensive ways of recent years have been replaced by a new offensive identity that requires far fewer swings for a momentum change. Within a nine-batter span on Saturday, the Cardinals clubbed four home runs, turning a four-run deficit into a two-run lead and leaving Jeff Samardzija to wonder how things had gone awry seemingly in a blink.

“It’s nice to have an offense that can instantly make something happen,” manager Mike Matheny said. “We’re down, 4-0, and the other guys is dealing — and he had good, good stuff today — but you just sense if we get a couple guys on base, something good can happen here.”

Not since his rookie season as manager has Matheny featured a lineup with this much power potential. Brandon Moss started the comeback with a homer to open the fifth. It was his team-leading 11th homer. Before the inning closed, Aledmys Diaz was being summoned for a curtain call after his three-run blast off the left-field foul pole erased the rest of the …

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