The student news site of Los Altos High School in Los Altos, California

The Talon

The student news site of Los Altos High School in Los Altos, California

The Talon

The student news site of Los Altos High School in Los Altos, California

The Talon

Giants Win Division Series with a Game that Defines Small Ball

The San Francisco Giants won Game 4 of the National League Division Series, beating the Washington Nationals 3-2. With the win, they win the series and move on to face the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Championship Series.

Like their other wins in the series, the Giants did it with minimal offense; the small ball attack was out in full force. In the second inning, they loaded the bases with a walk, an error, and an infield single on a bunt. Then, they walked a run home and brought another in on a ground ball out. In the seventh, they loaded the bases again on two singles and a walk, and third baseman Pablo Sandoval came up with the bases juiced and only one out. The third pitch got past Nationals’ catcher Wilson Ramos and brought home a run. All in all, the Giants scored three runs with no RBI hits.

Keeping in line with the previous games, the San Francisco turned to their pitchers, and they delivered. Starter Ryan Vogelsong pitched five innings of no-hit ball, finishing his night with 5 ⅔ innings pitched, two hits, one earned run, and four strikeouts. He handed the ball off to the bullpen, which employed four pitchers to finish the game. Their only blemish was a Bryce Harper solo home run off rookie Hunter Strickland. Closer Santiago Casilla came on in the ninth inning and got his second save of the postseason.

The Giants will move on the play the Cardinals, who upset the Los Angeles Dodgers in their Division Series. Odds are, this will be another series where the Giants are an underdog.

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“We like it when no one picks us…” Vogelsong said. “It kind of drives us when they pick against us.”

The first game of the National League Championship Series will be on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. in St. Louis.

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