Cardinals Encounter Two Errors As Giants Capitalize To Even Series.
Monday night looking to avoid a 0-2 hole before leaving home, the Giants of Frisco hosted the Cardinals with hopes to get their first home victory of the postseason. The Giants would throw Ryan Vogelsong to the mound as Cardinals would counter with Chris Carpenter.
Starting off things in the bottom of the first, Angel Pagan would homer to deep right off Chris Carpenter to give the Giants an early lead. In the following inning, Pete Kozma was walked and would get driven in as Carpenter doubled to deep center to tie the game. With two quick innings passing as both teams only had two each total, San Francisco would light Chris Carpenter up litearlly starting off with a double to left from first-baseman Brandon Belt.
Gregor Blanco would follow through with a single to left as Brandon Crawford would follow up reaching first next at bat on a throwing error by Carpenter. Belt scored as Blanco proceeded to second. Ryan Vogelsong would hit a sac-fly to first as Blanco and Crawford both advanced into scoring position. Angel Pagan was walked with would set up a 3-run score on an infield error by Matt Holiday as Blanco, Crawford and Pagan from a single to center from Marco Scutaro. With the score now at 5-1 before the top of the 5th, the Cardinals seemed content with already winning game 1 at San Fran to head back home for the next three games with the series tied 1-1.
The Cards bats would remain dry for the duration of the rest of the game as the Giants bats would come alive one last time in the bottom of the 8th as Gregor Blanco starting things off in the inning with a walk. Aubrey Huff and Angel Pagan would both follow with singles to load the bases in hopes for another shot at run producing.
With the bases loaded, Ryan Theriot would single to shallow left center as Blanco and Huff both scored to make it a 7-1 game. Sergio Romo would come in to close the game as the Cardinals would loose on a last strikeout by Pete Kozma.
Game 3 of the NLCS is Wednesday afternoon at 4pm ET on FOX as St. Louis will host their first home game of the series as Matt Cain faces Kyle Lohse in a pitcher’s duel.