Madison Bumgarner pitched a solid game for the Giants. Prior to the game, we noted that he was the youngest player on a Giants playoff unit since 1951, and the youngest pitcher to start any playoff game since 1984. You wouldn't have been able to tell by watching him though. He was far from shut-down, but he showed good poise and the ability to maneuver himself out of the occasional jam. Bumgarner went six innings and allowed six hits and two runs to pick up the win.
The Giants had strong performances from their pitchers for the most part throughout, as Bumgarner gave way to Santiago Casilla, who did his job well in the seventh, getting one out in the eighth and then giving way to Javier Lopez to pitch against Jason Heyward. Lopez got the out, and in the ninth gave way to all-star closer Brian Wilson. Wilson pitched a scary ninth inning, allowing a hit and walking another, before finishing the game with a groundout to pick up the save.
The Braves had some solid pitching too, especially from starter Derek Lowe, who was probably kept in too long. In the seventh, he allowed two baserunners (including an error) and had a visit from manager Bobby Cox. It was a brief exchange where Lowe convinced Cox to leave him in as Pat Burrell came up to bat. Lowe ended up walking Burrell and was pulled.
Cody Ross came up huge for the Giants in this game, hitting a home-run, and then driving in the game-winning RBI in the seventh. It put the Giants up 3-2, the final score. The seventh inning saw two runs, with the aid of an error, and Lowe ended up charged with two runs after leaving with the bases loaded.
It is the Giants first NLCS appearance since 2002. San Francisco will begin the NLCS on Saturday at Citizens Bank Park against the Philadelphia Phillies, who finished their sweep of the Reds on Sunday.