Kolten Wong's home run gave St. Louis Cardinals a 5-4 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Sunday night to even the best-of-seven National League Championship Series final with one game win each.

This despite losing Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina who had to left the game before the seventh inning due to a strained muscle on his left side. He was replaced by Tony Cruz.

According to a report published by The Associated Press, Wong admitted that it was "tough" for them to lose Molina at that moment but they had to go on and continue "grinding." It is still unclear what would happen to Molina for the rest of the series. But manager Mike Matheny, in a report published by the ESPN, said that Molina is still getting further tests and admitted "it didn't look real good."

A separate report by the Associated Press says that Molina, 32, one of the "best catchers" in baseball, had already missed seven weeks this season after suffering a thumb injury last July 9. Molina earned six Gold Gloves and ranked third in last year's National League Most Valuable Player voting.

Aside from Molina, the Cardinals have also been worried about the health of their starting pitcher, Adam Wainwright, who had elbow problems.

However, other Cardinals players stepped up in the absence of Moline, including first baseman Matt Adams, rookie pinch-hitter Oscar Taveras, and Matt Carpenter who all hit solo home runs each.

Carpenter made a home run in the third inning. During the fourth inning, the Cardinals made it 2-0. It was only during the fifth inning that the Giants pulled a run back. The Giants was able to tie the game in the sixth. 

Gregor Blanco then hit a home run in the seventh inning, putting San Francisco Giants ahead with 3-2.

Cardinals' Taveras homered off in the seventh, while Adams dashed home during the eighth, causing a 4-3 lead against the Giants. 

The score, however, leveled after Giants pinch-runner Matt Duffy hit a home run in the ninth. 

St. Louis Cardinals' starting pitcher Lance Lynn lasted for five and two-thirds innings with six hits and two runs, while San Francisco Giants' Jake Peavy lasted for four innings. 

For this year, the St. Louis Cardinals aims to get into the World Series for the second straight season. It will also be the team's third time in four years, if ever.

The third game is set on Tuesday at 4:07 p.m. Eastern time.