Giants Bullpen Fails Once Again
The San Francisco Giants’ bullpen meltdowns that marked the second half of the season proved to be an omen.
Three outs from forcing a fifth game in the National League Divisional Series, playing at home in front of a fevered crowd and with a three-run lead, the Giants let it all get away in a collapse defying description (though we’ll try).
Five relievers combined to give up four runs in the ninth inning after starter Matt Moore worked the first eight innings brilliantly. Manager Bruce Bochy should get frequent flier miles for the distance he covered walking back and forth from the dugout to the mound. It was fruitless. The Cubs scored four times before the Giants recorded an out and the Cubs won 6-5 to advance to the NL Championship Series.
“I did not want it to go five (games),” said Cubs manager Joe Maddon. No worries there, as the Cubs win it in four.
The Cubs will play the winner of Thursday’s Game 5 between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals. Poor relief pitching almost knocked the Dodgers out after Clayton Kershaw, working on just three days left, went into the seventh inning with a 5-2 lead and saw three relievers let three runs cross the plate before the rally ended with runners on first and third.
“When you have an opportunity to take the lead and you don’t, most of the time something bad happens,’’ Washington manager Dusty Baker said.
Indeed. The Dodgers’ Chase Utley singled in Andrew Toles in the bottom of the eighth for a 6-5 win. The series now wraps up in DC.
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman
-
Famous British Olympian Retires After an illustrious career adorned with numerous accolades, Dame Laura Kenny, Britain’s most successful female...
-
Manchester City Brings it Home with a 3-1 Victory! Following Manchester City’s impressive 3-1 victory over FC Copenhagen in...
-
Murray’s New Goals Before Retirement Andy Murray, the renowned British tennis player and three-time Grand Slam champion, has shared...
-
Kylian Mbappe led Paris Saint-Germain to a resounding 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad in the first leg of their...
-
Klopp acknowledges defensive flaws as Liverpool suffers unexpected defeat against Arsenal. Following Liverpool’s unexpected defeat against Arsenal, manager Jurgen...
-
Ryan Mendes’ Heroic Penalty: Captain Leads Cape Verde to Victory In a historic moment for Cape Verde, the national...
-
Probe Raises Questions About PSG’s 2017 Deal and Political Involvement. French authorities have launched an investigation into allegations...
-
As Ireland faces a back-three injury crisis ahead of the Six Nations, some players have an opportunity to step...
-
16-year-old Luke Littler Makes History as the Youngest Player to Join the Prestigious Premier League Darts Luke Littler, the...
-
Get ready for the electric thrill! In a groundbreaking move, Formula E announces its exclusive broadcasting partnership with TNT...
-
Captain Kohli’s Record-Equalling Century Lights Up World Cup Match Against South Africa. On the occasion of his 35th birthday,...
-
All-Rounder Stokes Aims for Recovery Ahead of Upcoming India Test Series England Test captain Ben Stokes has announced that...