The San Francisco Giants took Game 3 of the NLCS thanks to a walk-off error committed by Cardinals' relief pitcher Randy Choate. The Giants now have a 2-1 series lead and will send Ryan Vogelsong - one of the best postseason pitchers in MLB history - to the mound for Game 4 on Wednesday.
San Francisco got to John Lackey early, ripping off four runs in the bottom of the first inning with an RBI double from Hunter Pence and a three-run double from Travis Ishikawa. But then the Giants got cold and only scattered two hits in the next nine innings. The Cardinals tied the game after scoring runs in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings.
Second baseman Kolten Wong hit a two-run triple in the fourth, followed by a Jhonny Peralta RBI single in the sixth and finally a Randal Grichuk game-tying homer in the seventh. Giants' starter Tim Hudson was pulled after Grichuk's homer and relieved by Jeremy Affeldt. Hudson lasted 6 1/3 innings, giving up seven hits and four earned runs compared to Lackey's six-inning effort to go along with five hits and four earned runs. The bullpens proved strong for both teams beyond the sixth inning.
In the bottom of the 10th, the Cardinals brought in Randy Choate to relieve Seth Maness, and the Giants capitalized. Brandon Crawford led off with a walk and then Juan Perez singled to left to put pressure on Choate with no outs. The right-hander was then tasked with facing the top of the order, but it didn't last very long. Leadoff hitter Gregor Blanco sacrifice bunted to move the runners over, and when Choate fielded the ball, his throw to first base was too wide for Wong, who was running to cover as Matt Adams charged the bunt. The ball sailed into right field and Crawford came in to score to give the Giants a 5-4 victory.
Now up 2-1 in the NLCS, San Francisco will call on Ryan Vogelsong to face Shelby Miller of the Cardinals. Believe it or not, Vogelsong made history as a postseason pitcher after his win against the Nationals in the NLDS. He became the first pitcher ever to allow only one run or fewer in his first five postseason starts, with successful outings against the Reds, Tigers, Cardinals and Nationals. His other four starts came during the Giants' 2012 championship season, during which he earned a no-decision against the Reds, two wins against the Cardinals in the NLCS and another against the Tigers in the World Series.
The 23-year-old Miller will take the hill for his second career postseason start, with his first coming in the NLDS against the Dodgers. Miller faced Clayton Kershaw in Game 4 of the NLDS, and his 5 2/3-inning outing helped the Cardinals clinch the series and move on to face the Giants. Against a talented Dodgers offense, the right-hander allowed only two runs on five hits and three walks. He had a solid regular season, although not as good as his 2013 campaign, going 10-9 with a 3.74 ERA and 1.27 WHIP.
Game 4 will take place at 8:07 p.m. on Wednesday with FOX Sports 1 broadcasting the event. The Cardinals look to avoid a 3-1 hole as they'll face the Giants in San Francisco for Game 5 as well.
