Impact play of the game: Matheny mysteriously calls on Wacha in the 9th

St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny is on the hot seat after he called on rusty right-hander Michael Wacha to pitch the most critical inning of the season.

Matheny tabbed the 23-year-old to pitch the bottom of the ninth inning in a 3-3 must-win game after Wacha hadn't pitched since Sept. 26. The result: a pennant-clinching three-run home run off the bat of Travis Ishikawa to send the San Francisco Giants to the World Series and end the Cardinals' title hopes.

Wacha, who has battled a stress reaction in his right shoulder for over two months, struggled right out of the gate issuing a base hit to Pablo Sandoval. After getting Hunter Pence to line out, Wacha then issued a free pass to Brandon Belt on four pitches to put the game-winning run in scoring position. The rest is history.

Matheny expressed regret for his decision after the season-ending loss:

Matheny had other pitching options. Closer Trevor Rosenthal was warm in the bullpen and hadn't pitched since Game 2. 

Starters John Lackey and Lance Lynn were also declared available out of the 'pen prior to the game.

Matheny used five relievers in Wednesday's Game 4 loss to the Giants -including Seth Maness, who would have been a candidate for the high-leverage situation - which limited the skipper's options to an extent.