St. Louis at San Francisco

St. Louis at San Francisco

This is Missed It. St. Louis at San Francisco, Monday, September 7, 76 and clear at Oracle Park, wind 13 miles an hour out to center field, with the Cardinals. You missed it? Here's the whole game, as it happened.

Pregame

It's a fresh one here in San Francisco, folks. The St. Louis Cardinals take on the San Francisco Giants, and we've got a full nine ahead of us, maybe more. The Cardinals are looking to make some noise on the road, and the Giants are looking to protect their home turf. We've got the bats ready, the gloves oiled, and the coffee is hot. Let's get this one going.

Innings 1-3

We start the top of the first, and it's a quick one for our guys. Four batters come up, and we can't get anything going. Ground out, fly out, a little bit of nothing. Score stays zero-zero as we head to the bottom half. And the Giants waste no time. Five batters in the bottom of the first, and they strike first blood. With no outs and a runner on, Rafael Devers steps in. He's been a thorn in our side before, and he does it again. Devers doubles on a fly ball to right fielder Jordan Walker, and Turner Hill comes racing home. Just like that, it's one-nothing Giants. That ball was hit hard, and Walker had no chance to get it in on time. We're down a run early, but it's a long game. Top of the second, and it's a three-up, three-down kind of inning for us. No runs, no real threats. We just can't seem to find a rhythm at the plate. The Giants send three batters up in the bottom of the second, and they go down quietly too. Still one-nothing. Top of the third, four batters for us, and again, nothing. It's frustrating, folks. We're getting pitches to hit, but we're just not squaring them up. The Giants, though, they're patient. Six batters in the bottom of the third, and they add on. With one out and two on, Bryce Eldridge comes to the plate. He lifts a sacrifice fly to center fielder Nathan Church. It's deep enough, and Christian Koss tags up and scores. Two-nothing Giants now. That's the kind of baseball that wins games, folks. Sacrifice, execution, and we're on the wrong side of it right now.

Innings 4-6

Top of the fourth, and we're still searching. Three batters, no runs. The Giants' pitcher is dealing, and we're just not making him work hard enough. Bottom of the fourth, three up, three down for them. Still two-nothing. Top of the fifth, four batters, and we're still stuck on zero. It's starting to feel like one of those nights where nothing goes our way. But then the bottom of the fifth, and the Giants add another one. With two outs and the bases empty, Rafael Devers again. He doubles on a sharp line drive to right fielder Jordan Walker. That guy is seeing the ball like a beach ball tonight. Then, with two outs and a runner on, Bryce Eldridge doubles on a fly ball to center fielder Nathan Church. Devers scores. Three-nothing Giants. That one stings. We needed a shutdown inning there, and we didn't get it. But then, top of the sixth, and finally, a spark. Five batters come up, and with two outs and the bases empty, Alec Burleson steps in. He's been quiet tonight, but he picks the perfect time to wake up. Burleson homers on a fly ball to right field. Just like that, it's three-one. That ball was crushed, folks. The bench is up, the dugout is alive, and we've got life. The Giants go down quietly in the bottom of the sixth, and we head to the stretch down by two.

The Stretch

So here we are, folks. Down three-one after six. It's not where we want to be, but it's not over. The play that turned this first half, the one that set the tone, was that Rafael Devers double in the bottom of the first. That was the moment they grabbed the lead, and they've been holding onto it ever since. We've had our chances, but we haven't been able to string anything together. That Burleson homer in the sixth, though, that's the kind of swing that can change a game. We need to carry that energy into the seventh. We need to keep the line moving, get some guys on base, and put some pressure on their bullpen. We're down two, but we've got nine outs left, and in this ballpark, anything can happen.

Innings 7-9

Top of the seventh, and we're knocking on the door. Five batters come up, and with two outs and a runner on, Nathan Church steps in. He's been solid all night, and he comes through big. Church doubles on a line drive to right fielder Jung Hoo Lee, and Nolan Gorman scores. It's three-two, Giants. We're right back in this thing. The crowd is getting nervous, and we can feel it. The Giants go down quietly in the bottom of the seventh, and we've got all the momentum. Top of the eighth, and this is where it gets wild. Five batters, and we're threatening. With no outs and the bases empty, Iván Herrera singles on a line drive to right fielder Jung Hoo Lee. There's a baserunner. Then, with one out and a runner on, Jordan Walker singles on a ground ball to left fielder Turner Hill. Victor Scott II moves to second. Now we've got two on with one out. This is it. This is the moment. But then, with one out and two on, Leo Bernal grounds into a force out. First baseman Bryce Eldridge to shortstop Christian Koss. Victor Scott II to third. Jordan Walker is out at second. Leo Bernal is safe at first. Two outs, runners on the corners. We need a hit. Nolan Gorman steps in, and he flies out sharply to center fielder Jonah Cox. Inning over. We leave two on, and it's still three-two. That one hurts, folks. That was our chance to take the lead, and we couldn't cash in. The Giants go down quietly in the bottom of the eighth, and we head to the ninth, down by one.

The Sequence

This is where the game is decided, folks. Top of the ninth, down three-two. Six batters come up, and we're fighting for our lives. The inning starts, and we get something going. Before we know it, the bases are loaded with one out. This is the moment. José Fermín steps in, and he lifts a sacrifice fly to left fielder Turner Hill. Joshua Báez tags up and scores. Tie game. Three-three. We've done it. We've clawed all the way back. The Giants get six batters in the bottom of the ninth, but they can't push a run across. We're going to extras. Top of the tenth, and we're not done. Four batters come up, and with one out and a runner on, Leo Bernal singles on a fly ball to right fielder Jung Hoo Lee. Alec Burleson scores. Four-three, Cardinals. We've taken the lead. The dugout is going crazy. But the Giants, they don't quit. Five batters in the bottom of the tenth, and with no outs and two on, Bryce Eldridge singles on a sharp line drive to center fielder Nathan Church. Turner Hill scores, Rafael Devers moves to second. Tie game again. Four-four. We had them, and they took it back. Top of the eleventh, four batters, and we can't get anything going. We go down quietly, and it's up to our defense to hold the line. Bottom of the eleventh, and it ends in the cruelest way. Two batters come up, and with one out and a runner on, Shay Whitcomb singles on a ground ball to shortstop Thomas Saggese. Nate Furman scores. Game over. Four-five. The Giants walk it off.

Wrap-up

And that's the ballgame, folks. Four-five, Giants. We fought back from three down, we took the lead in the tenth, and we just couldn't hold it. That one's going to sting for a while. We had our chances, and we left too many of them out there. But this team doesn't quit. We'll be back at it tomorrow.

Outro

That was St. Louis at San Francisco, from the Cardinals side. This has been Missed It. Every game, both sides, at missed it dot net. Produced by James Barrett.

St. Louis at San Francisco

This is Missed It. St. Louis at San Francisco, Monday, September 7, 76 and clear at Oracle Park, wind 13 miles an hour out to center field, with the Giants. You missed it? Here's the whole game, as it happened.

Pregame

It's a fresh one here at the ballpark, Giants fans. The St. Louis Cardinals are in town, and we've got a full night of baseball ahead of us. Our San Francisco Giants are looking to make some noise, and the energy is already building in the stands. First pitch is moments away, and we're ready to go.

Innings 1-3

Top of the first, and the Cardinals come out swinging. They send four batters to the plate, but our guys hold the line. No runs, no damage, score stays at nothing-nothing. Clean inning, exactly how we want to start. Then we come up in the bottom of the first, and it doesn't take long for the fireworks. There's a runner on, no outs, and Rafael Devers steps in. He gets a pitch he likes and drives it deep to right field, a fly ball that keeps carrying. Jordan Walker tracks it, but it's over his head, off the wall. Turner Hill is running on contact, rounding third, and he scores easily. Devers is in at second with a double, and just like that, we're on the board. One to nothing, Giants lead. The crowd is on its feet, and we've got early life. The second inning settles things down a bit. St. Louis sends three batters up, and we send three right back. No runs either way, score stays one to nothing. Quick work, back and forth, both pitchers settling into a rhythm. Third inning, and the Cardinals get a little more traffic. Four batters, but again, nothing across. We're holding them, and now it's our turn again. Six batters come to the plate for us, and we manufacture another one. One out, two runners on, and Bryce Eldridge comes up with a chance to add on. He lifts one to center field, deep enough, and Nathan Church makes the catch. But Christian Koss is tagging from third, and he scores on the sacrifice fly. Two to nothing, Giants. That's how you play small ball, folks. We're building a lead, and it feels good.

Innings 4-6

Fourth inning, and the Cardinals go down in order. Three batters, three outs, no drama. We come up and do the same. Score stays two to nothing, and we're rolling along. Fifth inning, and things get interesting. St. Louis sends four batters up but can't push anything across. Then we get back to work. Two outs, bases empty, and Rafael Devers is up again. He's already got one double tonight, and he wants another. He gets a pitch and rips it down the line, a sharp line drive to right field. Jordan Walker can't get there, and Devers is standing on second. That man is seeing the ball like a beach ball tonight. And then Bryce Eldridge steps in with Devers on second, two outs. He gets a pitch and drives it deep to center field. Nathan Church is sprinting back, but it's over his head. Devers is off with the crack of the bat, rounding third, and he scores standing up. Eldridge pulls into second with a double of his own, and it's three to nothing, Giants. That's the big one, folks. That's the insurance we needed. But the Cardinals answer in the sixth. Two outs, bases empty, and Alec Burleson gets all of one. He sends it deep to right field, and there's no doubt about it. That ball is gone. Homers, and the score is now three to one. They're on the board, and suddenly this feels like a different ballgame. We come up in the bottom of the sixth and go down in order. Three batters, three outs, and we head to the stretch with a two-run lead.

The Stretch

Alright, Giants fans, let's take a breath here. We're up three to one at the stretch, and it feels like we've been in control most of the night. But that homer from Alec Burleson in the sixth, that changed the feel of this game. We had them quiet, and now they've got life. The play that turned this half, though, was that first-inning double from Rafael Devers. That set the tone. That told them we weren't going to be passive. We got on the board early, we added on when we needed to, and we've been playing our brand of baseball. Now we need to keep the foot on the gas. We need to hold this lead and finish the job. The Cardinals aren't going to go quietly, but neither are we.

Innings 7-9

Seventh inning, and the Cardinals chip away again. Two outs, a runner on, and Nathan Church steps in. He gets a pitch and drives it down the line to right field. Jung Hoo Lee is chasing, but it's over his head, off the wall. Nolan Gorman is running, and he scores from first. Church is in at second with a double, and just like that, it's three to two. The lead is down to one, and you can feel the tension in the ballpark. We come up in the bottom of the seventh and go down in order. Three batters, three outs, and we're clinging to a one-run lead. Eighth inning, and this is where it gets hairy. Iván Herrera leads off with a single to right field, a line drive that Jung Hoo Lee can't quite get to. No outs, a runner on, and the Cardinals are threatening. Then Jordan Walker steps in, and he grounds one to left field. Turner Hill fields it, but Victor Scott II is moving, and he's safe at second. Now there's one out, two runners on, and the Cardinals are knocking on the door. Leo Bernal comes up, and he grounds into a force out. Bryce Eldridge to Christian Koss, and they get the lead runner. Victor Scott II advances to third, but Jordan Walker is out at second. Two outs, runners on the corners, and we need one more out. Nolan Gorman steps in, and he flies out sharply to center field. Jonah Cox is under it, and he makes the catch. Inning over. We escape, and the score stays three to two. Bottom of the eighth, and we go down in order again. Three batters, three outs, and we're heading to the ninth with a one-run lead and everything on the line.

The Sequence

This is where the game gets decided, folks. Top of the ninth, and the Cardinals are desperate. They load the bases, and with one out, José Fermín steps in. He lifts one to left field, deep enough, and Turner Hill makes the catch. Joshua Báez tags from third, and he scores. Tie game. Three to three. The Cardinals have fought all the way back, and now we've got to answer. Bottom of the ninth, and we get six batters up. But we can't push anything across. No runs, and we're heading to extras. Ten innings, tied at three. Top of the tenth, and the Cardinals strike first. One out, a runner on, and Leo Bernal steps in. He gets a pitch and sends it to right field, a fly ball that Jung Hoo Lee can't quite run down. Alec Burleson is running, and he scores. Four to three, Cardinals. They've taken the lead, and now we're staring at a loss. But we don't quit. Bottom of the tenth, no outs, two runners on, and Bryce Eldridge steps in. He's already had a big night, and he comes through again. He rips a line drive to center field, and Nathan Church can't get there. Turner Hill scores, and Rafael Devers is moving up to second. Tie game again. Four to four. This place is electric, folks. We're not going down without a fight. Top of the eleventh, and the Cardinals send four batters up. But we hold them. No runs, and now it's our chance to walk it off. Bottom of the eleventh, one out, a runner on. Shay Whitcomb steps in. He gets a pitch and grounds it to shortstop. Thomas Saggese fields it, but he can't make the play. Nate Furman is running, and he scores. Walk-off. Five to four, Giants. We win.

Wrap-up

Final score, St. Louis Cardinals four, San Francisco Giants five. We took their best punch, we answered every time they came back, and we finished it. That's Giants baseball, folks. That's what it means to never give up. We walk off winners, and there's nothing better than that.

Outro

That was St. Louis at San Francisco, from the Giants side. This has been Missed It. Every game, both sides, at missed it dot net. Produced by James Barrett.