Final
Giants-Cardinals Preview
Aug 17, 2015 - 8:54 PM The San Francisco Giants defeated St. Louis in last year's NLCS en route to another World Series title, and they could use more wins over the Cardinals to boost their chances of making this postseason.Within striking distance in the NL West and wild card, the Giants are in the midst of a challenging slate that includes six matchups against the team with the best record in the majors. They'll also have to face a likely motivated Michael Wacha in the first of those Monday night.
San Francisco took five games to dispatch St. Louis before claiming its third championship in five seasons but has some work to do to make this year's playoffs. The Giants (64-53) trail the Los Angeles Dodgers by 2 1/2 games in their division and have a 3 1/2-game deficit in the wild card to the Chicago Cubs.
San Francisco started a 26-game stretch against playoff contenders by losing their slim wild-card lead in a four-game sweep at the Chicago Cubs from Aug. 6-9. The Giants rebounded by going 5-1 at home against AL West-leading Houston and Washington, completing a four-game sweep of the latter with a 5-0 victory Sunday.
"I really thought this homestand was critical for us, coming off a road trip where you get swept in a four-game series," manager Bruce Bochy said. "We really clicked everywhere in this series."
San Francisco will next embark on a seven-game road trip against teams with the NL's best two records, St. Louis (75-42) and Pittsburgh (69-46). The Giants will then return home to face the Cubs and Cardinals, winners in eight of 11.
In its first matchup with St. Louis since the NLCS, San Francisco has the added challenge of taking on a team that's produced one of its best home records in franchise history (44-18). St. Louis will also send out one of the MLB's co-leaders in victories in Wacha (14-4, 2.93 ERA).
The right-hander has allowed two runs in 20 innings while winning his last three starts and outdueled another 14-game winner, Pittsburgh's Gerrit Cole, in a 4-2 victory Wednesday.
He could become the majors' first 15-game winner Monday depending on how Cole performs against Arizona.
Wacha will face the Giants for the first time since giving up Travis Ishikawa's pennant-clinching homer in the ninth inning in Game 5. Wacha pitched six innings in a 2-0 win at Busch Stadium in his only start against San Francisco on May 31, 2014.
Chris Heston (11-7, 3.38) will seek his first victory this month in his first appearance against St. Louis. The right-hander is 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA in his three starts in August, yielding one run over 6 1-3 innings in a 2-0 loss to Houston on Wednesday.
Heston has allowed a combined eight runs in 8 2-3 innings in two road starts this month.
He won't have to face star rookie Randal Grichuk, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday with a right elbow strain. Grichuk is batting .324 with eight homers, 20 RBIs and a 1.025 OPS in his last 28 games.
- #1 Cards Fan Yet another Cardinals win late in the ball game. Probably should've scored 3+ more runs in the 4th though. It's never good leaving the bases loaded. Great game!
Giants 1, Cardinals 2 FinalAug 18 2:56 PM - SAN FRANCISCO: 1
ST. LOUIS: 2
Final
Aug 17 10:50 PM - Reynolds grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop B.Crawford unassisted, Piscotty scored, Reynolds to first, Moss out.
Giants 1, Cardinals 2 Bot 8, 2 OutsAug 17 10:40 PM - Mark Reynolds reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Brandon Moss out at second. Stephen Piscotty scores.
Giants 1, Cardinals 2 Bot 8, 1 OutAug 17 10:38 PM - Sharon Giants, Tonight I am rooting for you in fact all 3 of your games vs St Louis I am because they are in front of Pittsburgh . Next week I will be rooring for the Pirates to beat you . We caN GAIN A FULL GAME IF WE PULL OUT THIS WIN
Giants 1, Cardinals 1 Bot 7, 1 OutAug 17 10:18 PM - Brandon Crawford doubles to deep center field. Matt Duffy scores.
Giants 1, Cardinals 1 Top 6, 2 OutsAug 17 9:55 PM - Gregor Blanco pops out to shallow center field to Jhonny Peralta.
Aug 17 8:11 PM - SAN FRANCISCO: 0
ST. LOUIS: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Aug 17 8:10 PM
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