Giants 5, Cardinals 0: Brandon Crawford drove in two runs and Barry Zito worked into the eighth inning as visiting San Francisco avoided elimination in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series.

The Giants trail the series 3-2 after Zito (1-0) allowed six hits with six strikeouts over 7 2/3 frames in his first postseason win since 2006. The series moves back to San Francisco for the final two games.

Cardinals starter Lance Lynn (1-2) retired nine of his first 10 batters before running into trouble in the fourth, when the Giants sent nine batters to the plate and scored four runs. Lynn yielded four hits during the rally and committed a costly throwing error before exiting the game after 3 2/3 innings. Zito capped the rally with a bunt single with two outs that scored Gregor Blanco from third.

The Giants’ Pablo Sandoval added an insurance run in the eighth when he led off the eighth with his second home run in as many games. The Giants won despite managing just six hits with 12 strikeouts.

Zito threw a season-high 115 pitches and squashed the Cardinals’ best scoring threat in the second inning when he struck out Daniel Descalso with no outs and two runners in scoring position. After an intentional walk to Pete Kozma, Zito got Lynn to ground into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Giants have won each of Zito's last 13 starts. ...Cardinals 3B David Freese hit his 13th career postseason double in the second inning and moved into a tie for 20th all-time with Ryan Howard and Pete Rose. …Giants RHP Ryan Vogelsong faces RHP Chris Carpenter in Game 6 on Sunday in San Francisco. …Giants 2B Marco Scutaro went 1-for-4 after recording at least two hits in each of the first four games of the NLCS. …Cardinals RF Carlos Beltran had a single and a stolen base after missing Game 4 with a strained left knee.