MLB Playoffs: Day 6

Well, sports fans, if you didn't like yesterday's games in the NLDS, you should really take up a different hobby.

First up, the Nats and Dodgers went at each other on a gorgeous sun-splashed afternoon in Dodger Stadium.  The Dodgers jumped out to a 5-2 lead, and had Clayton Kershaw on the mound, and appeared to be home free -- but in the top of the 7th, the Nats rallied for three runs (without a homer!) to tie the score at 5.  However, in the bottom of the 8th, the Dodgers put together a two-out rally consisting of a hit batsman and two singles -- the last of which from aged lead-off man Chase Utley.  The Dodgers slammed the door in the 9th, and they had won a trip back to Our Nation's Capital with a 6-5 victory.

Then we went to San Francisco, where Matt Moore dominated the Cubs for 8 innings, holding them to two runs on only two hits.  At that point, the Giants had a 5-2 lead, and the folks in PacBell Park were celebrating.  But Moore had thrown 120 pitches, and so Giants' Manager Bruce Bochy decided to go with the bullpen in the 9th.

That proved to be a mistake.  Here's what happened:

Derek Law pitching:
Kris Bryant singled to left
Javier Lopez relieved Derek Law:
Anthony Rizzo walked, Bryant to second
Sergio Romo relieved Javier Lopez:
Ben Zobrist doubled to right, Bryant scored, Rizzo to third (Giants 5, Cubs 3)
Chris Coghlan hit for Addison Russell
Will Smith relieved Sergio Romo
Willson Contreras hit for Chris Coghlan
Contreras singled to center, Rizzo and Zobrist scored (Giants 5, Cubs 5)
Jason Heyward bunted, Contreras forced at third, Heyward advances to second on throwing error by shortstop Brandon Crawford
Hunter Strickland relieved Will Smith
Javier Baez singled, Heyard scored (Cubs 6, Giants 5)

It was very exciting stuff -- a four-run comeback in the 9th inning against five different Giant pitchers.  And then the Cubs sent out closer Aroldis Chapman -- who had blown a save the night before -- and he struck out the side to finally close out the Giants.  But what a scrappy side those Giants are.

Los Angeles 6 - 5 Washington
San Francisco 5 - 6 Chicago

NATIONAL LEAGUE:
Chicago defeated San Francisco 3-1
Washington and Los Angeles tied 2-2

AMERICAN LEAGUE:
Toronto beat Texas 3-0
Cleveland beat Boston 3-0