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Jim Thome Jersey FRANCISCO In a game with more twists and turns than San Franciscos famous crooked street, the Giants defeated the Chicago Cubs 6-5 in 13 innings Monday night to stay alive in the National League Division Series. It was the Giants 10th consecutive victory in a postseason elimination game, the longest such streak in major league history.As is so often the case with the Giants in the postseason, the heroes were unexpected relievers Derek Law, Hunter Strickland, Will Smith and Ty Blach. Backup third baseman Conor Gillaspie. And second baseman Joe Panik, who mi sed a chunk of the season to a concu sion, and never seemed to regain his hitting form after he returned.MORE: Best images from the NLDSIn the bottom of the 13th, Panik launched a soaring fly ball off the bricks in right field at AT&T Park, scoring Brandon Crawford from second, and sending the Giants and their fans into a frenzy.But that doesnt begin to tell the story.We thought we were getting a pitchers duel between Jake Arrieta and Madison Bumgarner, and in a way we did. In the top of the second, with two on and two outs, and Bumgarner fighting his command, Arrieta stepped to the plate. Four pitches later, he unloaded on a 1-2 fastball from Bumgarner, sending the ball into the left field bleachers give the Cubs a 3-0 lead. Giants fans slumped in their seats in stunned silence while Arrieta raised his fist and rounded the bases to roars from the Cubs dugout.It was the first home run Bumgarner has given up in his career to the opposing pitcher. And the first runs hes allowed in a postseason game since
Carlton Fisk Mesh Batting Practice White Jersey Game 1 of the 2014 World Series. He lasted only five innings.But the Giants chipped away, plating a run against Arrieta in the third and again in the fifth. Denard Span kicked off both rallies with extra base hits and scored both runs. On a night when Arrieta labored to throw 97 pitches in six innings with le s than dominant stuff, it looked like it would be good enough against a Giantsoffense that had, until that point, mustered only four runs in the series.Add to that the fact that the Giants hadnt scored on the Cubs' bullpen all season. Not in any of the teams seven regular season games. And not in the first two games of this series.Still, the Giants came to bat in the bottom of the eighth down only a run, thanks to two scorele s innings from Derek Law and one from Hunter Strickland. Brandon Belt hit a leadoff single. Buster Posey followed with a walk. With a series victory just six outs away, Cubs manager Joe Maddon walked to the mound
Sox Cool Base Custom White/Black Jersey and pointed to his left arm. In came his closer, Aroldis Chapman.MORE: Three takeaways from the Giants' thrilling win in Game 3Chapman blew away Hunter Pence with high heat. One out. Up stepped Conor Gillaspie to the plate. Just five nights earlier, Gillaspie hit a three-run home run offMetscloser Jeurys Familia to give the Giants a victory in the wild card game. Gillaspie only started the wild card game because of a hamstring injury to regular third baseman Eduardo Nunez. And with Nunez still nursing his sore muscle, Gillaspie was pre sed into action again Monday night.In a one-strike count, Gillaspie turned on a 101-mph fastball from Chapman and sent it flying off into right center field, just beyond the outstretched glove of right fielder Albert AlmoraJr., whod just entered the
Carlos Rodon Jersey game in a double-switch. By the time Gillaspie stopped running, he was on third, two runs were in, and the Giants had their first lead of the series.It was the first triple Chapman has ever given up to a left-handed batter.Brandon Crawford followed with a single, scoring Gillaspie, and the Giants headed to the top of the ninth with a two-run lead.MORE: Indians sweep Red Sox in ALDS; Big Papi's career endsThats been a danger zone all season. In September alone, Giants relievers blew nine save opportunities. Only in the last week of the regular season did Sergio Romo emerge as manager Bruce Bochys best option in the ninth.So of course Romo came in, walked Dexter Fowler, and then gave up a two-run home run to Kris Bryant. Game tied at 5.And it stayed tied until Panik breathed new life into the Giants season. And as Panik said after the game, if the Giants are breathing, theyre fighting. And if theyre fighting, theyre not out of it.The Giants will hand the ball Tuesday night to Matt Moore, hoping for their 11th
Tim Anderson Jersey consecutive victory in a postseason elimination game. Hell be taking with him to the mound advice he received from Joe Maddon back in 2011, when Maddon was managing the Rays and Moore was just breaking into the league. He told me to trust myself and my stuff, said Moore before the Giants thrilling extra-inning win. Try not to get too caught up in the moment.
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