Giants Beat Cardinals To Advance To World Series

(San Francisco, CA) -- The San Francisco Giants are heading to the World Series after winning their third National League pennant in five years. Travis Ishikawa hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Giants past the St. Louis Cardinals 6-3 in Game Five of the NLCS in San Francisco.

Michael Morse tied the game at three in the bottom of the eighth with a solo homer, while Joe Panik hit a two-run blast in the third for the Giants, who won titles in 2010 and 2012 and are seeking their eighth overall. Game One of the Fall Classic between the Giants and AL champion Royals is Tuesday in Kansas City. Madison Bumgarner tossed eight innings of three-run ball while Jeremy Affeldt picked up the win.  Matt Adams and Tony Cruz both went deep in the fourth inning for the Cards, who were aiming for their 12th World Series title and first since 2011. Michael Wacha suffered the loss.

Tony Cruz got the start behind the plate for the Cardinals last night in NLCS Game Five. Veteran catcher A.J. Pierzynski had started the previous two games. Regular catcher Yadier Molina suffered an oblique injury in Game Two on Sunday.

Thursday, October 16 Scoreboard

MLB Playoffs

San Francisco Giants 6, St. Louis Cardinals 3
(Giants win best-of-seven NLCS, 4-1)