The rematch of the 2012 NLCS between the Giants and the Cardinals may not be going as St. Louis intended, now down 3-1 in the series. With San Francisco only one win away from returning to the World Series, the Cardinals are no strangers to having their backs up against the wall. Fans may remember the 2011 World Series when the Cards rallied back from a 3-2 series deficit to the Texas Rangers. Down to their final strike not once but twice in game 6, clutch moments and timely hits helped them win in 11 innings which went down as one of the most thrilling games in baseball history. St. Louis then went on to win game 7 at home, taking the World Series title and stunning the entire baseball nation.
Two years ago, when they took a commanding 3-1 lead over the Giants, many thought it was over at that point and their second World Series appearance in a row was imminent. St. Louis saw their lead in the series dwindle as the Giants forced an unlikely game seven and eventually won the NLCS pennant after a remarkable comeback. Their roles this time have been reversed and the same outcome is surely weighing heavily on their minds.
Game 5
Tonight the Cardinals will send Adam Wainwright to the mound who has been very shaky this postseason. In two games started, he has yet to earn a win and he’s given up seventeen hits with an 8.00 ERA. This is obviously not the performance one would expect from the team ace. He will look to stop the bleeding for St. Louis, who is hoping to play another day.
Madison Bumgarner will be pitching for the Giants as he looks to clinch the series and send his team to the World Series for the third time in five years. This postseason he’s 2-1 with a 0.76 ERA in 23.2 innings pitched with twenty-three strikeouts. If anyone could send San Francisco to the World Series, it’s Bumgarner. His only mistake was during game 3 of the NLDS against the Nationals when he threw the ball away at third, allowing Washington to score two runs that resulted in a 4-1 loss. With a World Series berth on the line, expect to see more of his postseason dominance in game five.
Who Will Win?
Regardless of the 3-1 Giants series lead, each game has been extremely close. The Cardinals are resilient though and have shown us they will fight until the very last strike. However, with Bumgarner on the mound and Buster Posey starting to heat up, the Giants have the edge tonight playing at home. We’ve seen what the Cards can do at home and the Giants will want no part of closing out the series in St. Louis.
It should be a thrilling game as the Cards are looking to stay alive in the postseason. Just like in 2010 and 2012 though, the Giants are destined to go far every other year. The Royals, however, would like to say otherwise.
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