[SSW]

Another GREAT game for the Giants!

Bumgarner and Wainwright were both a little shaky starting out but were able to get through the 1st 2 innings w/o giving up a run BUT both of them had trouble in the 3rd and 4th innings -- Bumgarner more than Wainwright.

Bumgarner gave up a run in the top of the 3rd on a walk and a double over the head of Ishikawa who misplayed a fly to left and then Bum gave up 2 HRs -- 1 to Adams (who you'd expect) and the other to Cruz (who has hardly hit anything during the series. Cards lead 3-2.

Wainwright gave up a single to Blanco and a HR to Planik in the bottom of the 3rd and got into trouble again in the bottom of the 4th by giving up a double to Pablo and a walk to Pence but then Belt lined out to Wong and Pablo got doubled off at 2nd. However, Wainwright then walked Ishikawa and there were still 2 men on base at 1st and 2nd but then Crawford struck out. Wainwright squeaks out of trouble and the Giants squander the scoring opportunity.

The both Bumgarner and Wainwright settled down after that and Wainwright pitched a shut out through the 7th as did Bumgarner through the 8th. Bumgarner retiring 13 in a row and Wainwright retiring 10 in a row doing it. Their stat lines looked about the same. Bum threw 98 pitches-72 strikes, gave up 3 runs on 5 hits w/2 walks and 5Ks. Wainwright threw 97 pitches-61 strikes, gave up 2 runs on 4 hits with 2 walks and 7Ks. The critical different was the extra HR that Bumgarner gave up.

However, in the bottom of the 8th Neschek, the Card's setup pitcher, came in to relieve Wainwright and immediately gave up a HR to pinch hitting Michael Morse. This made up the difference between Bumgarner and Wainwright. Game tied 3-3.

Top of the 9th, Casilla came in to close out the Cards and to give the Giants a chance to win the game in regulation. However, Casilla didn't have good stuff; probably because he has never pitched in 3 games in a row, which he was doing tonight. Casilla gave up a walk and a hit. With runners on 1st and 2nd, Wong got to 1st on a FC w/a hard grounder between 3rd and 2nd, which Pablo deflected and Crawford was able to field for an out at 2nd, leaving men on 1st and 3rd. If that ball got through the hole, the Cards would have scored a run. Affeldt then came in to get the final out with runners on Wong "stole" 2nd; it was uncontested, no throw was made. Casilla then walked Cruz. BASES LOADED! That's it for Casilla. Affeldt came in and got Taveras to ground out on a play that he fielded himself. Disaster averted.

BTW, it scared the sh*t out of me to see Strickland warming up w/Affeldt during the top of the 9th. If Strickland came in to pitch to Taveras (who hit a HR earlier in the series off of Machi in Game 2), the score probably would have been 7-3 Cards. Thank goodness Bochy when w/Affeldt instead.

Then Matheny tries to pull some magic out of his hat by putting his starter Wacha in relief in the bottom of the 9th, because he really had no other choice. He needed a pitcher who might be able to give him some long relief (like Petit has been doing for the Giants) because he didn't know how long the game would go. Rosenthal's stuff was suspect and Gonzales was tired after being able to to the job in the last game. All the rest of his pitchers were late relievers not suited for long relief. So, Wacha was it.

However, Wacha had not pitched for 20 days; trying to recover from a shoulder injury. Wacha immediately threw a couple of 95+ mph heaters (and the announcers thought all was well w/Wacha) but he then gave up a single to Pablo on a hanging change-up. Wacha got Pence to fly out next but then walked Belt on 4 straight balls. 2 on and 1 out. It looked like Wacha had already lost his control. Ishikawa came up next. He doesn't have a great batting average but he almost hit a ball out of the park in Game 3 but only got a double because the ball was knocked down by the wind. Wacha threw him 2 balls inside (that made it 6 balls in a row) and then Ishikawa connected on a fastball up in the strike zone for a walk off 3 run HR!!

Giants win 6-3 and win the National League Championship Series 4-1 BUT it wasn't easy.

Despite the 3 run difference, the game was extremely close both teams made the same number of "mistakes" resulting in the 3-3 tie as of the bottom of the 8th. The Giants made more mistakes in the top of the 9th but were able to recover and get out of the inning w/o giving up another run. Then the Cards make the final mistake by giving up the 3 run homer to Ishikawa, who went from being the goat for not properly fielding the fly ball in the 3rd to becoming the hero by hitting the walk off homer in the 9th.

Amazing!!!

Neither the Royals or Giants, who were both wildcard teams, were expected to make it to the WS. Like the Giants and Cards, the Giants and Royals are very similar teams that "win" in very similar ways. They both play fundamental baseball, have good defense & good bullpens and take advantage of mistakes . made by their opponents. The Giants probably have the edge in starting pitching and the Royals have the edge in base running. Hitting is probably a push. The bullpens are close too, but the KC bullpen can throw some real heat with control which is not something the Giants can do. So, it looks to be a very tough match up and it should be a great World Series. Hopefully, the fact that the Royals swept the Giants in their 3 game inter-league series this year won't be a factor. It will at least give the Giants some scouting info upon which to develop a strategy for beating the Royals in the series.

GO GIANTS!!!!!