Giants Beat Cardinals, Royals Edge Orioles

Giants Beat Cardinals In NLCS Game Three

(San Francisco, CA) -- The San Francisco Giants defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 5-4 in 10 innings in Game Three of the National League Championship Series.  Brandon Crawford scored the winning run on a throwing error by Cards reliever Randy Choate in the bottom of the 10th. Hunter Pence doubled in a run in the first inning and then scored on Travis Ishikawa's three-run double later in the frame as San Francisco built a 4-0 lead. The Giants lead the best-of-seven matchup two-games-to-one and will host Game Four on Wednesday.Sergio Romo was credited with the win, while Choate suffered the loss. Randal Grichuk hit a game-tying solo homer in the seventh for the Redbirds  Kolten Wong had a two-run triple and Jhonny Peralta plated the other run in defeat.

With All-Star catcher Yadier Molina ailing, veteran A.J. Pierzynski got the start behind the plate in Game Three. Pierzynski went 0-for-4 with a strikeout. Molina has an oblique injury but remains on the roster to contribute defensively off the bench.

The Cardinals and Giants play Game Four of the National League Championship Series tonight at AT&T Park. Shelby Miller is scheduled to start for St. Louis, while San Francisco counters with Ryan Vogelsong. First pitch from San Francisco is set for 7:07 p.m.

Royals Edge Orioles, Take Commanding ALCS Lead

(Kansas City, MO) -- Billy Butler's sixth-inning sac-fly lifted the Royals to a 2-1 win over the Orioles in Game Three of the ALCS from Kauffman Stadium.  Kansas City owns a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Lorenzo Cain went 2-for-4 with a run and Alex Gordon drove in the other run on a groundout in the fourth.

Jeremy Guthrie pitched five innings of one-run ball while Jason Frasor picked up the win and Greg Holland notched the save. Wei-Yin Chen pitched 5 1/3 innings of two-run ball for Baltimore, which also lost the first two games of the series at home. Steve Pearce doubled in the second and scored on J.J. Hardy's two-bagger for the O's lone run. The Birds were held to just three hits and five baserunners total. The Royals host Game Four on Wednesday with left-hander Jason Vargas set to take on Baltimore's Miguel Gonzalez.

Tuesday, October 14 Scoreboard

MLB Playoffs

San Francisco Giants 5, St. Louis Cardinals 4 (10 inn)
(Giants lead best-of-seven NLCS, 2-1)

Kansas City Royals 2, Baltimore Orioles 1
(Royals lead best-of-seven ALCS, 3-0)

Wednesday, October 15 Schedule (All Times Central)

MLB Playoffs

3:07 p.m. - Baltimore Orioles at Kansas City Royals
(Royals lead best-of-seven ALCS, 3-0)

7:07 p.m. - St. Louis Cardinals at San Francisco Giants
(Giants lead best-of-seven NLCS, 2-1)