Ep 19. 2014 NLCS, Game 2: Giants at Cardinals
- October 12, 2014
In the 2014 NLCS, Game 2, the San Francisco Giants faced off against the St. Louis Cardinals in a battle for the National League pennant. This highly anticipated matchup showcased two of the best teams in baseball, both hungry for a chance to play in the World Series.
The Giants, coming off a wild-card win over the Pittsburgh Pirates and a commanding Game 1 victory over the Cardinals, looked to continue their momentum and take a commanding 2-0 lead in the series. The Cardinals, meanwhile, were looking to even the series and regain home-field advantage as the series shifted to San Francisco for Games 3, 4, and 5.
The game began with a pitching duel between Giants starter Jake Peavy and Cardinals ace Lance Lynn. Peavy, making his first NLCS start since winning the series with the Boston Red Sox in 2013, was sharp from the outset, retiring the side in order in the first inning. Lynn was equally effective, allowing just one hit through the first three innings.
In the fourth inning, the Giants broke through with a pair of runs. After singles by Hunter Pence and Brandon Belt, Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina attempted to pick Pence off second base, but his throw sailed into center field, allowing Pence to advance to third and Belt to second. With runners in scoring position, Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford came through with a clutch single, driving in both runners to give the Giants a 2-0 lead.
The Cardinals threatened in the bottom of the fourth, as a single by Matt Holliday followed by a double by Jhonny Peralta put runners on second and third with one out. However, Peavy was able to retire the next two batters to escape the jam and preserve the Giants’ lead.
In the top of the sixth, the Giants added to their lead with another pair of runs. After a leadoff double by Travis Ishikawa, Lynn was replaced by Cardinals reliever Marco Gonzales. With one out, Pence singled to left, driving in Ishikawa and giving the Giants a 3-0 lead. Belt followed with a single of his own, and after Gonzales was replaced by Seth Maness, the Giants executed a double steal, with Pence stealing third and Belt stealing second. The Cardinals intentionally walked Crawford to load the bases, but Giants catcher Buster Posey came through with a sacrifice fly to right to score Pence and give the Giants a 4-0 lead.
The Cardinals finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth, as a leadoff triple by Kolten Wong was followed by a sacrifice fly by Matt Carpenter to make the score 4-1. But Peavy was able to retire the next three batters to end the inning and keep the Giants’ lead intact.
In the top of the seventh, the Giants added another run on a solo home run by Ishikawa, who continued his hot streak in the postseason with his fourth homer in nine playoff games. The Cardinals answered back in the bottom of the seventh with a two-run homer by Matt Adams, cutting the Giants’ lead to 5-3.
The Giants turned to their bullpen in the eighth inning, with relievers Javier Lopez, Sergio Romo, and Santiago Casilla combining to retire the Cardinals in order and preserve the Giants’ lead. In the ninth inning, the Giants turned to their closer, Hunter Strickland, who retired the side in order to secure the victory and give the Giants a 2-0 lead in the series.
Overall, the game was a showcase of strong pitching and timely hitting by the Giants, who were able to take control of the series with a convincing victory on the road. The Cardinals will look to bounce back in Game 3, while the Giants will look to continue their strong play and take a commanding 3-0 lead in the series. With both teams fighting for a chance to play in the World Series, the 2014 NLCS is shaping up to be one of the most exciting postseason matchups in recent memory.