Giants 6, Cardinals 1: Ryan Vogelsong tossed seven strong innings and Marco Scutaro drove in a pair of runs as host San Francisco forced a decisive Game 7 in the National League Championship Series.

Vogelsong (2-0) struck out the side in the first inning and didn’t allow a hit until Daniel Descalso's single with two outs in the fifth. He exited after giving up one run on four hits with a career-high nine strikeouts.

The Giants took an early lead in the first when Scutaro scored on Buster Posey’s groundout, then broke it open with four runs in the second on three hits off Chris Carpenter (0-2) and a key error by shortstop Pete Kozma.

Brandon Belt led off the second with a booming triple to left field before Brandon Crawford was intentionally walked to face Vogelsong, who hit a ground ball that Kozma bobbled. After Angel Pagan struck out, Scutaro belted a two-run double and Pablo Sandoval capped the rally with an RBI single.

Carpenter struggled for the second time in the series, allowing five runs (two earned) over four innings. St. Louis scored its lone run in the sixth when Allen Craig drove in Carlos Beltran with a two-out single.

The Giants added an insurance run on Ryan Theriot’s pinch-hit RBI single in the eighth.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Cardinals LF Matt Holliday was scratched from the starting lineup with a stiff back. …The win was the Giants’ fifth straight in a game when facing possible elimination during this postseason. ... The Cardinals have allowed 12 unearned runs this postseason after surrendering the fewest in the majors during the regular season. … San Francisco improved to 5-1 this postseason when scoring four or more runs in a game. … Giants RHP Matt Cain is scheduled to face RHP Kyle Lohse in Game 7 on Monday.