The Giants took a step towards their second World Series title in three seasons as San Francisco defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 4-2 in game one of the National League Championship Series on Sunday Night.
After Giants' starter Madison Bumgarner got off to a slow start and gave up a two run homer to Carlos Beltran, San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy put in two-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum, who struck out seven batters in an extended appearance from the bullpen.
Lincecum command the ball with authority as he threw 50 strikes in 67 pitches, while 7 scoreless innings and allowed only two hits to earn the decision. He walked none and threw only eight pitches out of the strike zone.
The Giants got on the scoreboard in the fourth inning, when right fielder Hunter Pence hit an RBI single to make cut the lead to one run. San Francisco collected nine hits in the game including three solo home runs from Angel Pagan, Gregor Blanco and Pence, who went 4-for-4 with two RBIs.
With the exception of Beltran, The Cardinals struggled to hit the ball and tallied only two hits once Lincesum entered the game with only five hits overall.
The game ended with NL MVP Award candidate Yadier Molina at the plate with a man on second and facing off against San Francisco closer Brian Wilson.
Molina protected the plate for 11-pitches, but on the twelfth pitch Wilson got Yadier looking with a fastball right down the middle of the plate to end the game and give the Giants a 1-0 series lead.
Check out our simulation of game one of the ALCS here. Do you think MLB 2K12 got the game right? Comment below...