In yet another low scoring affair, the San Francisco Giants defeated the Washington Nationals at AT&T Park on Tuesday night to win their third consecutive NLDS. They'll face the Cardinals in St. Louis to kick off the NLCS on Saturday, October 11, at 8:00 p.m.
The story was the same on Tuesday night. The Nationals' offense and bullpen cost them their third game of the series and sent them packing early on in the postseason. Washington only had four hits and two runs - two of those hits and all of the RBIs came from Bryce Harper - and the bullpen surrendered a run to break the 2-2 tie in the seventh. An error by starter Gio Gonzalez in the third cost the Nats two runs and the Giants went on to preserve the 3-2 victory.
Giants' starter Ryan Vogelsong gave a strong outing against the Nationals, lasting 5 2/3 innings and giving up only two hits, two walks and a run. The right-hander received a no-decision, but his postseason numbers are extremely impressive since his first outing in 2012 (3-0 in five starts with a 1.19 ERA and 0.99 WHIP). He faced a struggling Nationals offense that finished worst among the NLDS teams in terms of average (.164) and on-base percentage (.222) and only ahead of the Angels in runs (9) and RBIs (7).
Vogelsong helped the Giants to their third NLCS in five years, of which the last two appearances resulted in World Series championships against the Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers. San Francisco will have Madison Bumgarner ready to go on Saturday to face Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright in St. Louis for Game 1. Besides Washington, the Giants have had the best pitching in the postseason, compiling a 4-1 record with a 1.33 ERA and three saves in 54 innings. Their opponents' batting average of .157 is the best among all playoff teams.
"Nobody's will is stronger than these guys and nobody's desire is deeper," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said, in this MLB.com article. "These guys were determined to get back on that plane and they found a way to get it done. It's in their DNA. They have a history of it."
Baseball fans will get to see a rematch of the 2012 NLCS when the Giants face the Cardinals this weekend. San Francisco was down 3-1 in that series and won Games 5, 6 and 7 to advance to the World Series and defeat the Detroit Tigers. But the Giants will need to get their bats going because they'll be facing another talented rotation that includes Wainwright, Lance Lynn, John Lackey and Shelby Miller.
FOX will broadcast Game 1 of the NLCS on Saturday at 8:00 p.m.
