Breaking down the Giants' colossal 9th-inning collapse
In a matter of one half-inning, the San Francisco Giants went from sitting pretty to seeing their season come to an end.
Over eight innings, left-hander Matt Moore stymied the Chicago Cubs, striking out 10 batters while giving up two runs on two hits.
But with a 5-2 lead in the ninth inning, Giants manager Bruce Bochy went to his bullpen. One walk, four hits, four runs, and five pitchers later, Chicago had all it needed to move on to the NLCS.
Chicago became the second team in MLB history to come back from a 3-run deficit in the 9th inning to win a postseason series clincher, joining the 1986 New York Mets (LCS).
Here's how the inning went down:
Giants 5, Cubs 2
0 out, Nobody on
The Giants kicked off the inning with Derek Law, who promptly gave up a single to Kris Bryant. Bochy didn't waste any time going to the bullpen for the first time in the inning.
Giants 5, Cubs 2
0 out, Runner on 1st
Next up for San Francisco was Javier Lopez, who walked slugger Anthony Rizzo. Bochy went directly to his closer, Sergio Romo.
Giants 5, Cubs 2
0 out, Runners on 1st and 2nd
Romo was tasked with trying to get the switch-hitting Ben Zobrist. After falling behind in the count, he served up a middle-middle fastball that Zobrist drilled to right field for an RBI double.
Giants 5, Cubs 3
0 out, Runners on 2nd and 3rd
Cubs manager Joe Maddon brought Chris Coghlan to hit for Addison Russell. As a counter-move, Bochy came to the mound and made a pitching change, calling on Will Smith. Maddon proceeded to burn his pinch hitter Coghlan in favor of Willson Contreras, who promptly ripped a two-RBI single up the middle to tie the game.
Giants 5, Cubs 5
0 out, Runner on 1st
Smith stayed in the game and became the first Giants pitcher to face his second batter of the inning. Jason Heyward tried to bunt the runner over to second, but instead bunted it right back to the pitcher. The Giants got the force out, but shortstop Brandon Crawford threw the ball to first away, putting Heyward at second with one out.
Giants 5, Cubs 5
1 out, Runner on 2nd
Bochy did his dance again, making a call to the bullpen for right-hander Hunter Strickland. It was to no avail, as Javier Baez hit a go-ahead RBI single to center field.
Giants 5, Cubs 6
1 out, Runner on 1st
Strickland stayed in the game and induced an inning-ending double play off the bat of David Ross, which stopped the bleeding a little too late, as Aroldis Chapman would strike out the side to end the game and the series.
(Videos courtesy: MLB.com)