Ep 23. 2014 NLCS, Game 4: Cardinals at Giants
- October 15, 2014
In the 2014 NLCS, Game 4: Cardinals at Giants, fans witnessed an intense battle between two of the National League's top teams. The game took place at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California on October 15th, 2014.
Both teams came into the game highly motivated, as a win for the Giants would give them a commanding 3-1 lead in the series, while a victory for the Cardinals would even the series at 2-2. With so much on the line, it was no surprise that both teams came out swinging.
The Cardinals took the early lead in the top of the first inning, with Matt Carpenter hitting an RBI double to score the game's first run. However, the Giants quickly responded in the bottom of the inning, with Brandon Belt hitting an RBI single to tie the game at 1-1.
The game remained tied until the bottom of the third inning, when the Giants took the lead on an RBI double by Hunter Pence. They extended their lead to 4-1 in the fourth inning, thanks to a two-run home run by Travis Ishikawa.
Despite being down by three runs, the Cardinals refused to go down without a fight. In the seventh inning, they scored two runs to cut the Giants' lead to 4-3. However, they were unable to tie the game, as the Giants' bullpen shut them down in the final two innings.
One of the key factors in the game was the pitching performances of both teams. Giants starting pitcher Ryan Vogelsong delivered a strong performance, allowing just three runs and striking out four in six innings of work. Giants relievers Javier Lopez, Jean Machi, Sergio Romo, and Santiago Casilla combined to shut down the Cardinals in the final three innings of the game.
On the other side, the Cardinals' bullpen struggled, allowing three runs in just two innings of work. Starter Shelby Miller also had a difficult outing, allowing four runs in just three and two-thirds innings before being replaced by reliever Marco Gonzales.
While the game was certainly a disappointment for Cardinals fans, there were still some standout performances on their side. Matt Carpenter had a great game, going 3 for 5 with an RBI and a run scored. Jhonny Peralta also had a solid outing, going 2 for 4 with an RBI.
For the Giants, the player of the game was undoubtedly Travis Ishikawa. In addition to hitting the two-run homer that gave the Giants the lead, he also made a key defensive play in the ninth inning to secure the win for his team.
Overall, the 2014 NLCS, Game 4: Cardinals at Giants was an exciting and intense game that showcased the talent and determination of two of the top teams in the National League. While the Giants came out on top, the Cardinals showed that they were not going to give up easily. Fans can only hope that the rest of the series will be just as exciting.