Cardinals typically strong defense lets down in NLCS Game 1
ST. LOUIS — Matt Carpenter booted a hard ground ball he usually handles. Kolten Wong muffed what looked like a sure double play. Randal Grichuk couldn’t hang on after banging into the fence for what would have been an intense catch and nullification of Pablo Sandoval’s key double.
Three plays, up to a possible four outs and all of the runs scored that could have changed the outcome in favor of the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series. Instead, the San Francisco Giants won 3-0 at Busch Stadium on Saturday night to take home-field advantage in the best-of-seven set.
The Giants led by a run in the second when Gregor Blanco inside-outed a pitch from Adam Wainwright, hitting it sharply toward third, but Carpenter couldn’t handle it and Hunter Pence scored for a 2-0 lead.
If slugger Pablo Sandoval doesn’t lead off the inning with a double, it’s likely the Giants don’t score at all. His drive to right, golfed off a tee after Wainwright slightly hung a curveball, sent Grichuk to the warning track, where he appeared to get caught in between by leaping into the fence. He caught the ball after impact with the padding, but couldn’t hang on when he hit the ground. It was a tough, tough play. And he almost made it. Almost.
Wainwright was not his sharpest self, needing 98 pitches just to cover 4 2/3 innings. But he’s also used to getting more help — and luck — Cards manager Mike Matheny said.
“As you break down how that played out, Grichuk almost makes a great play,” Matheny said. “He holds on to that ball and we make plays we typically make, you’re looking at an 0‑0 game. He doesn’t hold on to that ball, you’re looking at a 1‑0 game and that’s pretty good. That’s giving us a chance.
“It comes down to us doing the things we do on a consistent basis. And our pitchers need help at times.”
Another play the Cards “typically make” happened in the third inning.
The Cardinals appeared to have the Giants set up for a double play with runners at first and second and nobody out when Hunter Pence hit a sharp grounder back through the box. Wainwright got a bare part of his glove hand on the ball, which slowed it down but also, perhaps, put a funny spin on the ball. Wong appeared to be in good position for to complete a 1-4-3 double play, but he couldn’t handle the ball. Shortstop Jhonny Peralta picked it up and stepped on second for a force play, but didn’t even try for Pence at first base.
The Giants led 3-0 after the next batter, Brandon Belt, hit a sacrifice fly to center.
The Cards offense couldn’t make a dent against Madison Bumgarner, so the best they could have hoped for was extra innings, which still made it anybody’s game, if the Cards make plays they frequently do.
Three plays, only one official error, but all missed opportunities.
“A couple of plays — once again, our defense has been so good all season, and errors are going to happen, mistakes are going to happen,” Matheny said. “It’s just a matter of how much we can pick each other up. And once we [make mistakes], let ’em go and get ready for the next play or for the next game.”
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David Brown is an editor for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter!
