The Giants would prefer to reclaim the lead in the N.L. West and enter as division winners, and not just because the Cubs are a near lock to face the wild-card entrant in an Division Series. Although they haven’t fallen out of a playoff spot in their desultory second half, this might have been the game that made them feel like a playoff team again. For the Cubs, it might have been a preview of a different kind.
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The Giants appeared on their way to the win in regulation despite managing two hits thanks to seven strong innings from Cueto and a perfectly executed suicide squeeze.
Madison Bumgarner must be exhausted of getting overlooked.
“We were getting some things going but the boys needed a break and have one of those hard-hit balls fall in”, Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.
“It’s not very common with our group of guys”, Arrieta said of the mistakes. They eked out runs against a dominant lefty and made some noise late but just weren’t able to scratch across those final few to pull off the comeback. They’ve had their backs against the wall and been through hard times, but they’re going to keep fighting. “If we play with that kind of heart every night, I will take that every day of the year”. “They’re not losing their focus”. Rizzo was an easy out, a victim of a double play.
Washington pitcher A.J. Cole posted his first major league win, giving up one run in six innings to lead the Nationals to a 4-1 win at the Mets.
The Cubs handed Bumgarner a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Angel Pagan hit a one-out double off Arrieta (16-6) and third baseman Tommy La Stella overthrew first base after fielding Hunter Pence’s ground ball.
Cincinnati’s Eugenio Suarez singled up the middle with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, rallying the Reds past St. Louis 3-2. It was reminiscent of Posey’s slide in Miami, although not almost as painful.
Crawford earned points for creativity with his dazzling footwork and instincts in the sixth inning.
Asked to grade the slide, Crawford said, “Compared to Buster’s, or compared to the rest of mine in my career?” With an extreme shift then being utilized and third baseman Javier Baez moved over toward shortstop, Crawford then stole third base without a look over by Arrieta.
Sergio Romo and his balky knees beat Baez to the bag on a force play in the eighth, though it took a replay review to reverse Cuzzi s safe call. “I wanted to see if I could take a chance there”.
Crawford did, stunning the Cubs. The series was crucial, and when Belt struck out, it became clear that Crawford had singlehandedly stolen an insurance run.
Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (54) throws against the San Francisco Giants during the tenth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016, in Chicago. “I’m back to normal”, he said.
That kicked off a tense hour at Wrigley. Hunter Strickland entered and escaped the inning, but not before Bryant hit a line single up the middle on a 99.6 miles per hour fastball and Zobrist drew a walk to load the bases.
Trailing by a run, pinch hitter Anthony Rizzo led off the ninth inning with a walk and advanced to second on Dexter Fowler’s sacrifice. Did he think perhaps third base wasn’t being covered? He drifted far too off second trying to make a play to reach third. It helped define the Giants in their championship runs, and it got them through Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field.
So what would facing Bumgarner in October be like? Asked about taking two bags, Crawford smiled and channeled Jarrod Dyson.
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The good vibes could be crushed in the series finale, but on a day when Bumgarner outgunned the reigning Cy Young Award victor and the Giants held off a team that should win 100 games, players weren’t shy about looking down the line. “Posey made a good dash there at the end and I just got frozen. Hopefully that’s what happens”, he said. Bumgarner, the 2014 World Series MVP, has been in optimal MadBum form this year. “We’re going to find out who’s got the coconuts”.
