Final Score NLDS Game 3 – Giants 6, Cubs 5: Cubs Fall Short in Extra Inning Affair (Video Highlights)

Going into the game tonight it was all about Madison Bumgarner and Jake Arrieta. Undoubtedly, Jake won the battle but he did not win the war. Arrieta hit a three run home run in the top of the second inning to give the Cubs an early 3-0 lead. But the Giants would chip away and come back to take a 5-3 lead going into the top of the ninth inning.

That’s when Kris Bryant hit a two run home run to tie the game at five runs a-piece and send the game into extra innings.

In extras, the Cubs hung tough. There wasn’t much offense from either side but, in the bottom of the 13th inning, the Giants put together back-to-back doubles to score the winning run. They would win 6-5 (Box Score) to force a game 4 tomorrow evening at AT&T Park.

Stats that matter

• Jake was good enough on a normal night, that wasn’t tonight – 6.0IP, 2R, 6H, 1BB 5Ks, HR
• The bullpen wasn’t nearly good enough, allowing four runs
• KB put the team on his back tonight and, frankly, deserved a win for the effort – 3-for-5, 1R, 2RBI, 1BB, HR

Bottom line

This was a tough game, there’s no doubt, but the Cubs have to be able to come out tomorrow and put the Giants away. They are champions and they will not go down lightly. This will require a tenacity and strength of which, if the Cubs can muster it, will be one huge step towards winning it all.

There, I said it. This series is a battle against the giants of baseball. They believe they should win it, they think they’re good enough, and it will take a mammoth effort tomorrow to defeat them. Sounds like we’ve got quite an amazing night in front of us. I’ll be there and I hope you will too.

Next up

One more night in San Francisco. Game time is 7:30 PM CT and John Lackey (11-8, 3.35 ERA) will take the ball for the Cubs.