Preview: Cardinals at Giants
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[October 14, 2014]
The St. Louis Cardinals will be
without standout catcher Yadier Molina when the scene shifts to San
Francisco for Wednesday’s Game 3 of the National League Championship
Series. Kolten Wong’s ninth-inning homer to end Sunday’s Game 2 allowed
the Cardinals to even the series at one win apiece, but St. Louis lost
Molina to an oblique injury earlier in the contest. The injury could
sideline the six-time All-Star for the rest of the postseason.
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The Cardinals will be attempting to make it through the rest of
the series with catchers Tony Cruz and A.J. Pierzynski, which
represents a huge drop-off from Molina. “It stinks,’ Giants catcher
Buster Posey said of Molina’s injury. “You hate to see anybody go
down, especially a guy like him that means so much to their team.
It’s too bad.” Wong one was of four St. Louis players to hit homers
in Sunday’s 5-4 win, joining Matt Carpenter, Oscar Taveras and Matt
Adams.
TV: 4:07 p.m. ET, FS1
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH John Lackey (1-0, 1.29 ERA) vs.
Giants RH Tim Hudson (0-0, 1.23)
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Lackey was acquired due to his postseason experience, and manager
Mike Matheny is expecting he will rise to the occasion. “Every time
he was on the mound, he is one of those guys that is going to come
into a big situation and into a hostile environment, and we love
what San Francisco brings,” Matheny told reporters. “The excitement
they bring, and the city is fired up for the matchup.” Lackey is 1-1
with a 2.57 ERA in two career starts against San Francisco.
Hudson lost his final four starts of the regular season before
rebounding with a strong outing against Washington in the NL
Divisional Series, as he gave up one run and seven hits over 7 1/3
innings in a no-decision. The 39-year-old veteran merely was average
at home during the regular season, going 5-5 with a 3.94 ERA in 14
starts. Hudson is 4-4 with a 5.26 ERA in 13 career outings against
St. Louis but defeated the Cardinals this year when he gave up three
hits over seven scoreless frames.
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WALK-OFFS
1. Carpenter has four homers in six games this postseason and a .958
slugging percentage in 24 at-bats.
2. Posey went 0-for-4 in Game 2 for his first hitless game this
postseason.
3. St. Louis LF Matt Holliday is 9-for-26 with five RBIs against
Hudson.
PREDICTION: Giants 4, Cardinals 2
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