Oct 5, 2016; New York City, NY, USA; San Francisco Giants third baseman Conor Gillaspie (21) hits a three run home run during the ninth inning against the New York Mets in the National League wild card playoff baseball game at Citi Field. Photo Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
NEW YORK — If the Chicago Cubs are going to end the longest title drought in sports, they first will have to derail baseball’s even-year dynasty — the San Francisco Giants.
Conor Gillaspie broke a scoreless tie with a three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning Wednesday night, and Madison Bumgarner continued his postseason brilliance by throwing a four-hit shutout as the Giants beat the defending National League champion New York Mets 3-0 in the NL wild-card game at Citi Field.
The Giants, who won the World Series in 2010, 2012 and 2014, advance to the National League Division Series against the Cubs, who are seeking their first championship since 1908. Game 1 is scheduled for Friday night at Wrigley Field.
The Giants have won their last six win-or-go-home games dating back to the 2012 NLDS.
Bumgarner allowed two walks while striking out six and throwing 120 pitches, 79 for strikes. He has allowed one run in his past 30 postseason innings dating back to the start of the 2014 World Series.
In three appearances in winner-take-all postseason games, he has not allowed a run in 23 innings — a shutout in the 2014 NL wild-card game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, five innings for the save in Game 7 of the 2014 World Series against the Kansas City Royals, and then his gem Wednesday.
Even so, Bumgarner was one batter away from being lifted in the top of the ninth. Brandon Crawford led off with a double against losing pitcher Jeurys Familia. After Angel Pagan struck out, Joe Panik worked a walk to bring up Gillaspie, who was in the lineup because Eduardo Nunez has a hamstring injury.
With Jarrett Parker on deck to hit for Bumgarner, Gillaspie homered well beyond the right field fence. Third base coach Roberto Kelly was so excited, he was two-thirds of the way down the third base line when he exchanged high fives with Gillaspie.
Bumgarner then set the Mets down in order in the ninth. He slapped his left hand into his glove as center fielder Denard Span caught the final out.
Mets right-hander Noah Syndergaard carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning but didn’t factor into the decision despite seven scoreless innings. Syndergaard allowed just two hits and three walks while striking out 10.
Neither team got a runner past first base until T.J. Rivera led off the fifth with a double. However, he got caught in a rundown between second and third on Rene Rivera’s one-out grounder.
The Giants got a runner to second in the sixth, when Span broke up Syndergaard’s no-hitter with a two-out single. Span stole second, and Brandon Belt followed with a long fly to center, but Curtis Granderson made the catch as he crashed into the wall. Syndergaard raised his arms as the sellout crowd of 44,747 roared.
The Giants loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth, via a single and two walks (one intentional) off Addison Reed, but Hunter Pence struck out.
The Mets got a runner to second with two outs in the eighth, when pinch hitter Ty Kelly singled and advanced on a Jose Reyes groundout before Asdrubal Cabrera lined back to Bumgarner.
NOTES: The most notable absences from the 25-man rosters were Mets 1B Lucas Duda and Giants 3B Eduardo Nunez. Mets manager Terry Collins said he preferred switch hitter Ty Kelly over the left-handed hitting Duda, who batted .217 in eight games after returning Sept. 18 following a four-month stint on the disabled list caused by a stress fracture in his lower back. Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Nunez, who strained his right hamstring Sept. 25, wasn’t able to sprint at 100 percent. … Mets INF Wilmer Flores will undergo surgery to remove the hamate bone in his right wrist. Flores hasn’t played since he was injured sliding into home Sept. 10. … The Mets and Giants each earned a wild-card berth for the third time.
