Giants Clinch 2nd Wild Card, Complete Sweep Of Dodgers
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS/AP) -- If it is an even-numbered year, the San Francisco Giants find their way into the playoffs
San Francisco made it on the final day of the regular season, securing the second NL wild card with a 7-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep of their rival.
Denard Span hit a two-run triple among his three hits, and Buster Posey drove in three runs and had three hits.
San Francisco, which won Series titles in 2010, '12 and '14, plays at the defending NL champion New York Mets on Wednesday night in the NL wild-card game, with the winner advancing to a Division Series against the Chicago Cubs. Madison Bumgarner, the 2014 World Series MVP, will face Noah Syndergaard.
Los Angeles, the NL West champion, plays Washington in the Division Series.
Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully ended his 67-year career, calling his final game 80 years to the day after he fell in love with baseball walking home from school.
Midseason acquisition Matt Moore (6-5) allowed one run and three hits in eight innings as San Francisco (87-75) reached the playoffs for the fourth time in seven seasons. The Giants began the day one game ahead of St. Louis.
The Dodgers got a scare when center fielder Joc Pederson came up slowly after diving to try for Brandon Crawford's RBI single in the eighth.
San Francisco's fate came down to Game No. 162, just as it did in 2010. That year, Jonathan Sanchez pitched them Giants past San Diego for the division title. and San Francisco went on to win the franchise's first World Series since moving West in 1958.
After an up-and-down second half and a series of bullpen meltdowns since the All-Star break, San Francisco delivered an impressive offensive performance against Kenta Maeda (16-11), who surrendered five runs and nine hits in 2 2/3 innings.
San Francisco has won 16 of its last 20 home meetings against the Dodgers.
Third baseman Conor Gillaspie went over a railing and TV camera and into the photo well to snag Chase Utley's foul popup to begin the third.
"A superior catch, tumbling over the railing," declared 88-year-old Scully. "Gillaspie refused to quit, eyes riveted on the ball ... all's well that ends well. The Giants are pumped."
BAGS PACKED
The Giants loaded their suitcases in the players' parking lot early Sunday for the possibility of being gone a week.
If they beat the Mets on Wednesday, they would head straight to Chicago to begin the best-of-five NL Division Series.
"We're hitting the road regardless," manager Bruce Bochy said. "It's a case where you're definitely hitting the road, so get your packing done early. For a possible long trip, pretty much the message to everybody. How else would you think?"
SLUMPING DODGERS
The Dodgers lost five of six to end the season.
"I think we've covered everything this year with the 2016 Dodgers," manager Dave Roberts said beforehand. "Just to see the way that our guys have kind of come together, it's amazing to look back. ... To be in the position we're in, it's a good thing. Although we've lost three or four out of five, whatever it is, I still think the clubhouse, the mojo, the vide, energy, it's still good."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Dodgers: Roberts confirmed Josh Reddick and Andre Ethier will be on the playoff roster, with Charlie Culberson still "in the mix." The Dodgers hadn't determined how many pitchers they will carry.
Giants: INF Eduardo Nunez missed his sixth straight game since straining his right hamstring last Sunday at San Diego. He's unlikely to be available for the wild card round of the playoffs.
UP NEXT
Dodgers: Los Angeles will work out Tuesday, tentatively in the early evening, at Dodger Stadium before flying to Washington on Wednesday ahead of Friday's NL Division Series Game 1 with the Nationals and having a session in the nation's capital upon arrival.
Giants: San Francisco will travel East on Monday morning.
© Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed
