Giants Grab 2-1 NLCS Lead on Throwing Error

Brad Mangin/MLB Photos via Getty Images(SAN FRANCISCO) — Randy Choate’s throwing error in the bottom of the tenth allowed Brandon Crawford to score and give the San Francisco Giants a 5-4 win in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS) on Tuesday. With the victory, the Giants now hold a 2-1 series lead over the St. Louis Cardinals.

San Francisco had to battle for the win despite putting up four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Travis Ishikawa hit a three-run double off Cardinals starting pitcher John Lackey, giving the Giants the early 4-0 advantage. St. Louis’ veteran righty would settle down and wait as his team found a way to get back into the game.

The rally began in the top of the fourth when Kolton Wong tripled off the right field wall, plating both John Jay and Matt Holliday. San Francisco’s Tim Hudson would get out of the inning but gave up another run on Jhonny Peralta’s RBI single in the sixth, making it a 4-3 Giants lead.

Hudson, making the first LCS start in his 16-year career, got the first out of the seventh before Randal Grichuk homered to tie the game. That chased Hudson from the game and left it in the hands of the bullpen.

After St. Louis stranded the go-ahead run on base in the top of the tenth, Crawford worked a leadoff walk from the newly inserted Choate (0-1) in the bottom of the frame. Juan Perez then singled to put runners and first and second with nobody out.

That would bring up Gregor Blanco, who dropped a bunt down just the third-base side of the mound. As Choate went to field the ball, the lefty’s throw went up the right field line, allowing Crawford to score the game-winning run. Sergio Romo (1-0) got the win by getting the final out in the top of the tenth inning.

Both teams meet in Game 4 on Wednesday night at 8:07 p.m. ET in San Francisco. Shelby Miller (0-0, 3.18 ERA) takes the ball for St. Louis while the Giants turn to Ryan Vogelsong (0-0, 1.59).

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