The Giants did it again for a third time in five years. They defied the odds, battled through injuries, and unveiled unlikely heroes. They beat the Cardinals in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series, 4-3, with a walk-off home run by Travis Ishikawa.
Madison Bumgarner took the mound for the Giants. In his first two innings he had twenty pitches, eighteen of which were strikes. Bumgarner pitched eight innings with five hits, two balls, five strikeouts, and three runs.
In the third inning, Jon Jay doubled off of Bumgarner, giving the Cardinals the first run of the game. The Giants’ no home run issue ended when Joe Panik hit a two-run blast. The battle continued when Matt Adams and Tony Cruz hit solo home runs in the fourth, giving the Cardinals the lead once again 3-2.
It looked bleak for the Giants going into the eighth when Michael Morse entered the game as a pinch hitter. On the first ball thrown to him, he hit a homer, tying the game.
The ninth rolled around and it was all but easy. Santiago Casilla, the Giants’ closer, entered the game and quickly loaded the bases. Jeremy Affeldt, in hopes of preserving the tie, entered the game for the Giants with two outs and bases loaded. Affeldt dealt and Bourjos grounded out to Affeldt, ending the top of the ninth.
Joaquin Arias and Brandon Belt were on base with Ishikawa up to bat. Ishikawa won the game for the Giants with hit a three run walk-off home run, scoring Arias.
The Giants, who were home run-less in the NLCS, had three home runs in this game alone. Panik went 1-4, Sandoval went 2-4, and Pence and Belt surprisingly went hitless in yesterday’s game.
Madison Bumgarner was named the National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player. Bumgarner pitched 15.2 innings with nine hits, twelve strikeouts, and a 1.72 earned run average.
The Giants will now go to Kanasa City to face the Royals in the World Series. Game 1 of the World Series will start Tuesday at 5:07 p.m. The Giants have not announced who their starting pitcher will be, but bets are on their ace Madison Bumgarner.
