Giants vs. Cardinals, 2014 NLCS Game 2 final score: Kolten Wong hits walk-off homer in 5-4 win
The NLCS is tied, 1-1, after the Cardinals came back for a 5-4 victory over the Giants in Game 2 on Sunday night.
The St. Louis Cardinals blew a pair of leads, including one in the top of the ninth inning, but rallied for a 5-4 victory over the San Francisco Giants in Game 2 of the NLCS on Sunday night. The series is now tied 1-1 as things head to AT&T Park for Game 3 on Tuesday night.
Second baseman Kolten Wong, who was nearing his third straight hitless game, delivered in the bottom of the ninth with the walk-off home run. It capped an incredible night with several lead changes, including four in the final three innings.
The scoring started in the bottom of the third inning with the latest display of power from Matt Carpenter, who took Giants starter Jake Peavy deep to put St. Louis ahead, 1-0. It was Carpenter's fourth home run in six postseason games, an astonishing feat for a player who recorded just eight homers in 158 regular-season games this year.
The Cardinals would expand their lead from there in the next frame on an RBI single from Randal Grichuk, who also turned some heads with an impressive catch in the first inning. That put St. Louis ahead, 2-0, with the bases loaded, but Carpenter couldn't capitalized with two outs to expand the lead.
That would prove costly for St. Louis as the Giants responded with one run apiece in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. An RBI single by Hunter Pence in the sixth inning tied the game, 2-2, then Gregor Blanco put San Francisco ahead with an RBI single of his own the following inning.
During that multi-inning rally by the Giants, St. Louis was dealt a massive blow when catcher Yadier Molina left the game with a strained left oblique. The injury could keep Molina out long term, and force Tony Cruz into a larger role for the remainder of the postseason.
Things were looking dire for the Cardinals at that point, but Oscar Taveras came through in the bottom of the seventh inning with a clutch solo home run to tie the game, 3-3. It was a huge moment for the young outfielder, who hasn't always delivered on big expectations during his time with the big club.
An inning later, Matt Adams put the Cardinals ahead with a homer of his own, and it seemed like the Cardinals were on their way to victory. All St. Louis needed was a strong final frame from closer Trevor Rosenthal to put the game away.
However, Rosenthal faltered by throwing a wild pitch with men on and two outs, allowing San Francisco to tie the game on the unfortunate mistake. One imagines Rosenthal is thanking his lucky stars after being bailed out on Wong’s game-winning hit.
The series now heads to the Bay Area with the series tied, 1-1. John Lackey and Tim Hudson are set to take the mound for Game 3 at AT&T Park on Tuesday.
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