Thursday, October 11, 2012

National League Division Series: Cincinnati Reds VS. San Francisco Giants

Welcome to the post for the NLDS with the Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants. If you are following along throughout the series, come back here, as this post will recap the entire series.

Game 1: AT&T Park, San Francisco, California. On the mound: Matt Cain for San Francisco and Johnny Cueto for Cincinnati. Cueto didn't last long, leaving after recording one out with a reported case of back spasms. Cincinnati began in the third inning on a two-run Brandon Phillips home run, also scoring Drew Stubbs. The Reds got another in the fourth inning on a Jay Bruce solo home run. San Francisco got on the board in the sixth inning when Buster Posey hit a solo shot. Cincinnati extended the lead in the ninth inning with Phillips singling to knock in Ryan Hanigan, followed by Xavier Paul scoring on a passed ball. The Giants took one back in the bottom of the ninth when Joaquin Arias dashed home on a wild pitch, but this only made it 5-2. Sam LeCure was given the win, and Cain was handed the loss. Cincinnati holds a 1-0 series lead.

Game 2: AT&T Park, San Francisco, California. On the mound: Madison Bumgarner for San Francisco and Bronson Arroyo for Cincinnati. Cincinnati started in the second inning on a Ryan Ludwick solo home run. The Reds padded the lead in the fourth inning as Scott Rolen singled to score Joey Votto, followed by Ryan Hanigan doing the same for both Ludwick and Rolen. Cincinnati extended the lead in the eighth inning as Jay Bruce doubled in both Votto and Chris Heisey before scoring on a Hanigan single, and Hanigan was forced in by a triple from Drew Stubbs, who then came the final 90 feet on a double by Brandon Phillips. This was it for the scoring, with the final being 9-0, leaving the win with Arroyo, while Bumgarner had a rough time in the loss. The Reds head home with a stranglehold on the Giants, owning a 2-0 series lead.

Game 3: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio. On the mound: Homer Bailey for Cincinnati and Ryan Vogelsong for San Francisco. Cincinnati led off in the first inning as Jay Bruce singled home Zack Cozart. San Francisco tied it in the third inning on an Angel Pagan sacrifice fly to bring in Gregor Blanco. The Giants took the lead in the tenth inning as Joaquin Arias reached on an error that allowed Buster Posey to dash home. This was enough for a 2-1 win, picked up by Sergio Romo, while Jonathan Broxton was stuck holding the loss. The series also stands at 2-1, but in Cincinnati's favor.

Game 4: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio. On the mound: Mike Leake for Cincinnati and Barry Zito for San Francisco. San Francisco opened in the first inning as Angel Pagan hit a solo home run. Cincinnati tied it in the bottom of the first on a Todd Frazier bases-loaded walk to force in Joey Votto. The Giants retook the lead in the second inning as Gregor Blanco hit a two-run home run, also scoring Hector Sanchez. The Reds got one back in the third inning on a Ryan Ludwick solo shot. San Francisco replied in the fifth inning as Pagan doubled to drive in Joaquin Arias, before scoring on a Pablo Sandoval sacrifice fly. Cincinnati shot back in the sixth inning as Brandon Phillips hit a sacrifice fly to allow Drew Stubbs to come home. The Giants answered in the seventh inning on a Marco Scutaro double to knock in Arias, followed by Sandoval hit a two-run home run to finish Scutaro's trip around. This produced the 8-3 final, with the win going to Tim Lincecum and the loss stuck on Leake. The series heads to a decisive game, tied at 2 all. 

Game 5: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio. On the mound: Mat Latos for Cincinnati and Matt Cain for San Francisco. San Francisco got going in the fifth inning as Brandon Crawford tripled to force in Gregor Blanco, before scoring as Angel Pagan reached on an error, and then Buster Posey hit a grand slam, sweeping in Pagan, Marco Scutaro, and Pablo Sandoval. Cincinnati got some back in the bottom of the fifth as Brandon Phillips doubled both Ryan Hanigan and Drew Stubbs across the dish. The Reds got another in the sixth inning on a Ryan Ludwick solo home run. Cincinnati chipped away in the eighth inning as Ludwick singled to drive in Zack Cozart. This was as close as it got, with the final being 6-4, giving the win to Cain, the save was tossed by Sergio Romo, and the loss was served to Latos. The Giants head to the NLCS against a team to be named later.

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