SAN FRANCISCO: San Francisco pitcher Ryan Vogelsong rose to the do-or-die occasion yesterday, striking out nine as the Giants beat St. Louis 6-1 to stay alive in their race for a World Series berth.
The Giants’ victory tied the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at three games apiece ahead of the decisive game seven today.
The winners of the series will face American League champions Detroit in the World Series starting on Wednesday.
Vogelsong stymied the reigning World Series champion Cardinals over seven superb innings and Marco Scutaro went 2-for-3 with two RBI as the Giants came out on top in a potential elimination game for the fifth time this post-season.
The Giants had climbed out of a 0-2 hole to beat Cincinnati in the best-of-five division series.
They have now pulled level against the Cardinals with back-to-back victories.
“I wouldn’t say we like it, but it seems like guys are playing really well when we get in this situation,” said pitcher Matt Cain, who will get the ball for San Francisco opposite Cardinals’ hurler Kyle Lohse in game seven.
“Guys are just kind of letting it all hang out and it seems to be working out really well.”
The nine strikeouts were a career high for right-hander Vogelsong and Pablo Sandoval added two hits, including an RBI single. Brandon Belt went 2-for-4 and scored two runs for the Giants.
The Cardinals were without outfielder Matt Holliday, who was taken from the lineup because of tightness in his back. REUTERS
