Cardinals Leave their Hearts in San Francisco: Giants to the World Series

By Francisco Romero.-

For the third time in five seasons the San Francisco Giants will represent the National League in the World Series.

San Francisco came from behind the beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-3 and earned the right to face the Kansas City Royals in the Fall Classic.

Picture Courtesy of mlb.com

With the game tied at three in the bottom of the 9^th inning, Travis Ishikawa hit a walk-off three-run homer to give the Giants the victory.  Brandon Belt and Pablo Sandoval were on base.

Ishikawa’s home run was his first during the postseason.  Game five’s hero started the season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, he was later released and signed with the giants to a minor league contract, eventually breaking into the big league roster.

“This guys have been through it, have been battle-tested, they know how to handle themselves on this type of stage,” said Giants Manager Bruce Bochy after the game.  “Gutty effort through all this, I could not be prouder of this guy, they just don’t stop fighting,” he added.

The cardinals brought in Michael Wacha to pitch for the first time in the postseason and could not finish the job.  It was Wacha’s first action in the mound since September 26^th.

“Putting him in a tough place without giving him much work lately, that is on me,” Said Cardinals Mike Matheny after the game.  “I am not afraid to put him out there in a tight game,” he added.

Wacha was last years NLCS MVP as a rookie.  Earlier this year Wacha was out for two months with an injury.

The 2014 edition of the World Series will be composed of two wild card teams. 

The World Series will begin next Tuesday in Kansas City. The Royals enter the series undefeated, as they have won all eight of their postseason games.