MLB Postseason History: Four Greatest NLCS Moments

Apr 26, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; A Chicago Cubs hat and glove sits in the dugout during a game with the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 26, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; A Chicago Cubs hat and glove sits in the dugout during a game with the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
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The Giants Win the Pennant! (2014 NLCS)

When the 2014 postseason is mentioned, Madison Bumgarner is always the talk, and rightfully so. Bumgarner was a key factor in the Giants’ success in the 2014 playoffs. However, the Giants had several other memorable moments from the 2014 postseason.

One standout was their NLCS matchup against the Cardinals. The series definitely had its fair share of drama, as Games 2 and 3 ended with walk-offs. The Giants won Game 4 to take a commanding 3-1 lead, and all eyes were on Game 5. Madison Bumgarner faced Adam Wainwright, and neither pitcher was on their game.

The Cardinals held a 3-2 lead until the bottom of the eighth. The Giants sent pinch-hitter Mike Morse to the plate, who launched a moonshot to left to tie the game. In the bottom of the ninth, the Giants managed to get two men on before Travis Ishikawa came to the plate. The unlikely hero smacked a three-run walk-off home run to right field to clinch the NL pennant for the Giants.

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Oddly enough, the last walk-off home run to advance an NL team to the World Series came in 1951, when Bobby Thomson hit the famous “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” to send the New York Giants to the World Series.