After falling behind 0-2 in the opening round of the MLB playoffs, the San Francisco Giants showed their championship pedigree, climbing back into the 2012 NLDS series and forcing a game 5 against the Cincinnati Reds.
"Thanks to the win today, there will be a tomorrow, and we are ready for that," said Giants outfielder Angel Pagan following another thrilling win.
Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, OH, will be the site for today’s series finale between the Giants and Reds in what will be a dandy of a ballgame.
According to MLB playoff odds 2012, the Giants (25/27 or +108 ML) will have to defy probabilities yet again, as the Reds (50/59 or -118) are the betting favorites today. In addition, runs could also be at a premium as oddsmakers set the OVER/UNDER at a combined total of 7 runs.
For San Francisco, one of the best National League pitchers in the game will get a chance at redemption, as LHP Matt Cain gets the nod in the finale.
In the NLDS opener, the three-time MLB All-Star lasted just 5 innings, allowing 5 hits, 3 runs -- two of which came via the longball -- walked one and stroke-out four. With the loss, Cain dropped to 0-3 with a 5.50 ERA against the Reds this season.
"Mr. Perfect" is looking to redeem himself and catapult his team to the NLCS for the second time in three years.
"I made more mistakes than even showed up," Cain admitted this week. "I think I may have been overanxious, going out there, with the first game being at home. I will try to think back to other starts and be more calm and relaxed and worried about making good pitches instead of just going out there and maybe firing up there."
For the Reds, they returned home sitting in the driver seat with three opportunities to capture their first playoff series victory in 17 years. However, their inability to put away the pesky Giants has put them in the predicament of a winner-takes-all elimination game.
Unlike the Giants, the Reds will not have the luxury of sending the No.1 pitcher to try and clinch the series. In the first inning of the NLDS, Johnny Cueto suffered pulled muscles on his side and was subsequently taken off the playoff roster.
As a result, Reds skipper Dusty Baker will turn to RHP Mat Latos once again, after he came in and salvaged the series opener following Cueto’s injury.
"You wish you had Johnny Cueto, but you don't," Baker said. "Right now, it's Mat's turn, and he's strong. He's on his regular turn, unlike his last time out."
Latos gave his team a lift out of the bullpen, tossing 4.0 innings, allowing only 4 hits and a single run on his way to a No-Decision.
"It's another game," said the 6-foot-6, 230-pound righty. "It's a team that I'm comfortable with -- a team that I've faced before. ... I'm just looking at it as another start. I've just got to go out there and pitch my game."
First pitch is scheduled for 1:07 p.m. EDT and it'll be broadcasted live on TBS.
