Travis Ishikawa HR Leads Giants Past Cardinals, Into World Series
Travis Ishikawa hit a game-winning, three-run homer off Michael Wacha in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the Giants beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 6-3, in San Francisco on Thursday night to win Game 5 of the National League Championship Series and advance to the World Series for the third time in five years.
With the Giants trailing 3-2 in the eighth inning, Michael Morse hit a game-tying, pinch-hit home run off Pat Neshek to set up Ishikawa's heroics in the ninth.
The Cardinals took a 3-2 lead in the fourth inning when Matt Adams and Tony Cruz each hit home runs off San Francisco starter Madison Bumgarner, who was named NLCS MVP after the game.
Ishikawa hit the first game-ending homer in NLCS history off Wacha, who took the loss a year after being named the NLCS MVP when he struck out 13 Dodgers in 13.2 innings pitched. Ishikawa was a potential goat earlier in the game when he misplayed John Jay's two-run double in the third inning.
San Francisco reliever Jeremy Affeldt got the win in relief. The Giants will face the Royals in Game 1 of the 2014 World Series, beginning on Tuesday in Kansas City.
Watch Travis Ishikawa's Pennant-Winning, Walk-Off HR
San Francisco Giants defeat St. Louis Cardinals, 4-1
Game 1: San Francisco 3, St. Louis 0
Game 2: St. Louis 5, San Francisco 4
Game 3: San Francisco 5, St. Louis 4
Game 4: San Francisco 6, St. Louis 4
Game 5: San Francisco 6, St. Louis 3
Home team in bold