NLDS Game 3: Giants beat Cubs, 6-5
Here’s a look at what happened in NLDS Game 3 between the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants.
5. 9. Final. 6. 40
The San Francisco Giants vs. Chicago Cubs, one of two NLDS series, went to Game 3 on Monday night. The Cubs took a 2-0 lead and got the chance to sweep the NL Wild Card representative at AT&T Park. The Giants had Madison Bumgarner on the mound, though, so the task would be difficult for the Chicago.
It’s never easy to score a run on Bumgarner, let alone get a hit against him. However, in the second inning, the Cubs scored quickly off the ace pitcher. It was actually Chicago’s own ace pitcher, Jake Arrieta, who did the damage. He hit a three-run home run to left field, putting his team up 3-0 early.
In the third inning, Giants catcher Buster Posey singled to left field to score their first run to bring the score to 3-1. He knocked in Denard Span, who had gotten a base hit.
The fifth inning saw the Giants score their second run of the evening. This came off a sacrifice fly that scored Span from Brandon Belt.
Bumgarner, who is normally dominant, did not look like himself on Monday night. While that homer was the only time he allowed the Cubs to score, the four-time All-Star still allowed seven hits and threw 101 pitches. All of this came in just five innings. Given the do-or-die nature of this game, the Giants had to turn away from their ace.
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It would take until the eighth inning for the Giants to score again. Conor Gillaspie, who was the hero of the NL Wild Card game, drove in two runs with nobody out to make the score, 4-3 Giants.
He got the triple off Aroldis Chapman, who got brought in for a six-out save. He was going for just his second six-out save attempt since 2013. Moments later, Brandon Crawford singled in another run to make it 5-3. This would seemingly be enough for the Giants to win the game.
However, in the 9th inning, Giants closer Sergio Romo walked the first batter he faced. Kris Bryant, arguably the Cubs’ most dangerous hitter, stepped up to plate. He would hit a high fly ball to left field, which barely cleared the fence for a home run. This tied the game at 5-5 and eventually sent it to extra innings.
In the bottom of the 13th, Crawford hit a double to open the inning. Joe Panik then stepped up to the plate and hit a double off the wall to score Crawford and win the game.
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So, the Giants are staying alive for at least one more day. Game 4 will take place at AT&T Park with the chance for them to tie the series at 2-2. If that happens, there will be a decisive Game 5 at Wrigley Field on Thursday, Oct. 13.