Ishikawa Sends Giants To World Series With Walk-Off Homer
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS13/AP) — The day didn't start so great for Travis Ishikawa after misplaying a ball to allow the first run of the game.
But who cares about that after his game-winning three-run home run to send the San Francisco Giants to the World Series.
The Giants' series against the Kansas City Royals will start on Tuesday night. This is the Giants' third trip to the World Series since 2010, and the Royals' first since 1985.
WATCH: Hunter Pence's Postgame Speech
The Royals are undefeated this postseason, winning a Wild Card game against the Oakland Athletics, then sweeping the Los Angeles Angels and Baltimore Orioles. They are the first team since the 2007 Colorado Rockies to sweep the first two rounds. The Rockies were swept by the Boston Red Sox that year.
Ishikawa knew right away on his first career postseason homer, raising his right arm into the air as he watched his ball sail into the seats. He was immediately mobbed at home plate after he rounded the bases as fireworks shot off from the center field scoreboard.
WORLD SERIES SCHEDULE
Game 1: San Francisco Giants @ Kansas City Royals
Game 2: San Francisco Giants @ Kansas City Royals
Game 3: Kansas City Royals @ San Francisco Giants
Game 4: Kansas City Royals @ San Francisco Giants
Game 5: Kansas City Royals @ San Francisco Giants
Game 6: San Francisco Giants @ Kansas City Royals
Game 7: San Francisco Giants @ Kansas City Royals
All games start at 5:07 p.m.
Pablo Sandoval singled to start the ninth against Michael Wacha, making his first appearance of the postseason for the Cardinals. After an out, Brandon Belt walked to bring up Ishikawa, who drove a 2-0 pitch into the elevated seats in right field.
Ishikawa hit the first game-ending homer in NLCS history. And it was the first time a homer sent the Giants into the World Series since perhaps the most famous drive ever in baseball - Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard 'Round the World" in a 1951 playoff.
Michael Morse hit a game-tying home run in the 8th inning, pinch hitting for starter Madison Bumgarner. It's the first pinch hit home run in Giants post season history.
Bumgarner got a no decision pitched eight innings, giving up three runs and five hits, including home runs to Matt Adams and Tony Cruz.
The Cardinals started the scoring in the top of the first inning after a ball misplayed by Travis Ishikawa in left field allowed Matt Carpenter to score on a John Jay double.
Coming into Thursday's game, the Giants hadn't hit a home run more than 200 at bats. That drought ended at 213 when Joe Panik hit a two-run home run in the third inning to give the Giants a 2-1 lead.
Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright pitched seven innings, giving up two runs, but leaving with a lead before Morse's home run in the eighth.
Pablo Sandoval has reached base in 23 consecutive postseason games, which is a franchise record.
Former Giants closer Robb Nen threw out the first pitch for Thursday's game.