Ryan Vogelsong masterful as Giants win another elimination game: Quick hits
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| Ryan Vogelsong struck out a career-high 9 in Game 6 of the NLCS. (Getty Images) |
Another elimination game, another Giants victory. With Sunday's 6-1 victory in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series, the Giants have won five games this postseason while facing elimination. Their sixth elimination game is Monday night at AT&T Park in Game 7 against the Cardinals.
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Hero: Ryan Vogelsong was simply outstanding. Vogelsong took a no-hitter into the fifth, and allowed just four hits in seven innings, while striking out a career-high nine batters. He wasn't just dominant on the mound, he also helped out with the bat, earning an RBI in the Giants' four-run second.
Goat: The Cardinals needed Chris Carpenter to be better than he was in Game 2. He wasn't, he was nearly the exact same -- four innings pitched, six hits, five runs, two earned runs, two walks on 76 pitches. He had six strikeouts on Sunday as opposed to one in Game 2. Still, the guy who had closed out three postseason series, couldn't get it done this time.
Turning point: Cardinals manager Mike Matheny chose to intentionally walk shortstop Brandon Crawford with runners on the corners and one out in the second with Vogelsong coming up next. Vogelsong turned to bunt, put pulled it back, hitting a chopper to Cardinals shortstop Pete Kozma, who bobbled the ball. It not only drove in the second run of the game, it set up a four-run fourth.
It was over when: Even though the Giants got a big lead early, it looked as if the Cardinals had a shot to get back in the game in the sixth inning. First, Carlos Beltran doubled with two out and then Allen Craig singled to drive in St. Louis' first run. With Craig on first, Giants pitching coach Dave Rhigetti came out to visit Vogelsong before facing Yadier Molina. Whatever he said helped -- or at least didn't hurt -- as Molina lined out to center fielder Angel Pagan to end the threat.
Next: We have a Game 7 and the two teams send their best two pitchers to the mound in St. Louis right-hander Kyle Lohse and San Francisco right-hander Matt Cain. Lohse beat Cain in Game 3 in St. Louis.
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