Nationals take Game 3 to stave off elimination
SAN FRANCISCO -- Breaking down Game 3 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park.
San Francisco pitchers haven't made many mistakes in this series but one huge one by Madison Bumgarner has Washington back in play. His throwing error on a misguided attempt for a force play at third base broke a scoreless tie in the seventh inning and the Nationals won 4-1 behind Doug Fister's seven shutout innings and the much-needed finishing work of Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen.
The loss for the Giants ended a 10-game post-season winning streak dating back to 2012, the third-longest ever. The 1998-99 and 1927-32 Yankees had 12-game streaks.
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State of the series: The Nationals now have gotten past the Giants' best pitcher and have a favorable matchup for Game 4 Tuesday evening. Lefty Gio Gonzalez starts for Washington against Ryan Vogelsong, whose start in this game was ensured by the six stellar innings of relief from Yusmeiro Petit in the 18-inning Game 2. Vogelsong was 0-4 with a 5.53 earned run average in September. Gonzalez was 3-1, 2.03 over his last five starts and, most important, was more efficient than he had been most of the season – 27 strikeouts and three walks over 26 2/3 innings.
If Washington could win Game 4, manager Matt Williams would be faced with another "My Guy" situation, much like staunchly sticking with closer Drew Storen, whose scoreless ninth erased two games that must have felt like a lifetime of playoff struggle.
Would he stay in line with Game 1 starter Stephen Strasburg? Or go to Jordan Zimmermann, who in his last two starts has pitched a no-hitter and came within one out of a shutout in Game 2? Zimmermann would be pitching on normal rest.
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Mister Fister: Doug Fister felt at home again in the ballpark about two hours from where he grew up in Merced, Calif. And he's plenty comfortable pitching against Bumgarner, having also throw seven shutout innings to beat him earlier this season in San Francisco. They also matched up in the 2012 World Series, when Fister was with Detroit. Fister lost that night but only allowed one run and four hits in seven innings despite taking a line drive off the head early in the game.
Monday's game was his first start in 10 days and his only significant trouble was loaded the bases with two out in the second inning on a single and two walks. But he struck out Bumgarner, a particularly good hitter for a pitcher, with a full-count curve ball.
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Throwing the other way: For all the effectiveness Giants pitchers have shown throwing the ball toward home plate, Bumgarner wasn't even close at third. The only thing worse than his decision to throw to third was the execution. The throw was well wide of third baseman Pablo Sandoval, which meant not only could Ian Desmond score from second, but Bryce Harper made it all the way from first. Bumgarner won't be confused with a Gold Glover. He's made 10 errors over the past four regular seasons.
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Exclamation point: The decisive seventh didn't necessarily resolve the Nationals' hitting difficulties in the series, though Asbrubal Cabrera provide a big single to drive in the third run. Bryce Harper, though, hit his second very long homer of the series in the eighth, above Triples Alley in right-center field off reliever Jean Machi. Not to be lost also were hard-hit outs by Wilson Ramos and Cabrera deep to the outfield immediately after the Harper homer. It's the first significant sign of the Nationals' offense coming to life. Denard Span had his first two hits of the series and, when he and Anthony Rendon singled in the third inning, it was the first –and still only – time Washington has had hits from consecutive batters in the series.
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Last, certainly not least: Williams couldn't have found a better spot for closer Drew Storen. Getting him into a game and through a successful though tortuous end was all but mandatory if the Nationals are going to continue winning. Having a four-run lead – so what if it's not a save situation – was even better. And, lo and behold, there was Pablo Sandoval – author of Storen's most recent nightmare, waiting for him to lead off the ninth. And the Panda blooped a single into short right field, followed by a crushed double to left center by Hunter Pence.
But Storen, in what could be a seminal moment in his career, got Brandon Belt on a called third strike. Brandon Crawford followed with a sacrifice fly and Travis Ishikawa ended the game with a broken-bat grounder to shortstop.
GALLERY: NLDS - GIANTS vs. NATIONALS