Panik, Giants top Cubs 6-5 in 13 to force game four in NLDS

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Sure is hard to send these San Francisco Giants home in October.

Joe Panik doubled off the right-center wall in the 13th inning to drive in Brandon Crawford, and the Giants outlasted the Chicago Cubs 6-5 on Monday night in Game 3 to extend their NL Division Series.

Boosted by Conor Gillaspie's go-ahead triple in the eighth off Aroldis Chapman, the Giants rallied from a three-run deficit and won their 10th straight game when facing postseason elimination.

San Francisco overcame Kris Bryant's two-run homer off closer Sergio Romo that tied it 5-all in the ninth, and an early three-run shot by pitcher Jake Arrieta against Giants ace Madison Bumgarner.

"Just because we're down, we're not out. If we're breathing, we're still fighting," Panik said.

The wild-card Giants forced Game 4 at their raucous ballpark, postponing a potential Cubs clinch party in the visitors' clubhouse. Chicago leads the best-of-five playoff 2-1 and will send John Lackey to the mound Tuesday night opposite lefty Matt Moore.

"We played it hard, we played it right - and they beat us," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said.

Teammates piled on Panik in celebration after he came through on the 57th pitch from Mike Montgomery, beginning his fifth inning of relief. Crawford hit a leadoff double on an 0-2 curve, bringing Panik to the plate.

His big hit ended a 5-hour, 4-minute game that was only 29 minutes shy of the total time it took to play the first two series games combined last week at Wrigley Field.

Gillaspie hit a two-run triple in the eighth and Crawford added an RBI single to give the Giants a 5-3 lead.

"There's a sense of calmness," Panik said. "It's like we've been there before."

Rookie left-hander Ty Blach earned the win, escaping a 13th-inning jam when pinch-hitter David Ross bounced into a double play.

Bryant's tying drive hit the top of the left-field fence and bounced into the seats, silencing the orange towel-swirling sellout crowd. The slugger received a warm hug of congratulations in the dugout from Chapman, who had just given up the lead.

On a night when the early focus was the marquee pitching matchup between Bumgarner and Arrieta, the bullpens decided this one hours later.

Arrieta's three-run drive in the second held up most of the way.

"The game had everything - pitching, timely hitting on both sides. It was just a fun game to be involved with," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.

Arrieta's shot ended Bumgarner's postseason scoreless streak at 24 innings. The left-hander had also thrown 24 straight shutout innings with the Giants facing postseason elimination, a separate string that was snapped as well.

Buster Posey hit an RBI single for the Giants in the third, and Brandon Belt had a sacrifice fly in the fifth.

Chapman relieved with two on in the eighth, trying for the second six-out save of his career, and Gillaspie tripled to deep right-center to put San Francisco ahead 4-3.

Starting at third base for a banged-up Eduardo Nunez, Gillaspie also hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning for all the runs in Bumgarner's wild-card win over the Mets last Wednesday in New York.

In the bottom of the ninth, Albert Almora Jr. made a diving catch in deep right field on Posey's sinking liner and doubled up Belt at first base for an inning-ending double play that kept the Cubs in it.

The Giants won the World Series in 2010, '12 and '14, and still believe they can get by Chicago and do it again given their remarkable track record with the season at stake.

In 2012 against the Reds, San Francisco became the first team to come back from an 0-2 deficit and win a best-of-five series with three straight road victories. After that, the Giants came back from 3-1 down to beat the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Championship Series.

"I just think it's part of our DNA," Belt said. "We never think we're out of it."

CHAPMAN GIVES IT UP

Chapman entered in the eighth and struck out Hunter Pence with five consecutive pitches clocked at 101 or 102 mph. That brought up Gillaspie, who grounded out his first three times up. He fouled off the first offering before driving the ball beyond a diving Almora in right-center.

Gillaspie has knocked in five of San Francisco's 11 runs this postseason.

"Give Gillaspie credit," Maddon said. "He did it a couple days ago. He got an elevated fastball and hit it to the far part of the ballpark. I think it surprised a lot of people."

It was the 10th extra-base hit Chapman has allowed to a left-handed batter in his career - and the first triple.

PAGAN SCRATCHED

The only Giants player with strong numbers against Arrieta was a late scratch. Left fielder Angel Pagan got pulled from the lineup about an hour before the first pitch because of back spasms. Pagan had a .455 average (5 for 11) against Arrieta with a double and two strikeouts. Gregor Blanco replaced him.

UP NEXT

Lackey will try to pitch the Cubs into their second straight NLCS, while Moore looks to build on his success down the stretch after the Giants acquired him at the Aug. 1 trade deadline from Tampa Bay.

Wood homers as Cubs beat Giants 5-2 for 2-0 NLDS lead

CHICAGO (AP) — Best in the majors during the regular season, the Chicago Cubs are one win from reaching the NL Championship Series for the second straight year.

Travis Wood took over when starter Kyle Hendricks got hurt and became the first relief pitcher since 1924 to hit a postseason home run , helping the Cubs beat the San Francisco Giants 5-2 Saturday night for 2-0 NL Division Series lead.

Madison Bumgarner, coming off a four-hit shutout of the New York Mets in the NL wild card game, tries to save the Giants' season when the series resumes Monday in San Francisco.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon remains wary of the Giants, World Series champions in 2010, '12 and '14.

"You watch how they react to different moments," Maddon said . "They're never panicked. They're never concerned. ... I really believe our guys will come ready to play knowing that they are also. That's just a given."

The Cubs, who start reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta, are now one win from a matchup with the Los Angeles Dodgers or Washington Nationals. Swept by the New York Mets in last year's NLCS, Chicago led the big leagues with 103 wins during the regular season and is hoping for its first World Series title since 1908.

Ben Zobrist hit a run-scoring single off former Cubs pitcher Jeff Samardzija in the first, and Hendricks added a two-run, bloop single in a three-run second.

The Cubs were leading 4-2 in the fourth when Hendricks left the game after with a bruised right forearm after being hit by Angel Pagan's line drive.

Wood struck out Conor Gillaspie to strand Pagan, then sent a one-out offering from George Kontos halfway up the left-field bleachers in the bottom half. The only other reliever to homer in the postseason was the New York Giants' Rosy Ryan in Game 3 of the 1924 World Series.

Given a curtain call by a screaming crowd of 42,392, Wood joined Rick Sutcliffe (1984) and Kerry Wood (2003) as the only Cubs pitchers to go deep in the postseason. Travis Wood has nine regular-season homers in his big league career.

Wood pitched a hitless fifth and was credited with the win. Four more relievers completed Chicago's second straight six-hitter, with Aroldis Chapman throwing 12 of 16 pitches at 100 mph and up for his second consecutive save.

Hendricks, the major league ERA leader, gave up two runs and four hits in 3 2/3 innings.

"We picked him up tonight, having his injury and stuff and that's what we have done all year long," Wood said. "We pull on each other and end up backing each other up."

Samardzija's first career playoff start was a short one. The right-hander, who spent his first 61/2 seasons with the Cubs, was pinch hit for in the third after allowing four runs and six hits.

Down 4-0, San Francisco scored two in the third when Gregor Blanco doubled in a run and scored on Brandon Belt 's sacrifice fly.

"Just can't put your team in that much of a hole early in the game, especially against a good staff like they have over there," Samardzija said. "Like to have that one back, for sure, that one's on me."

HENDRICKS UPDATE

Hendricks said his arm "feels pretty good right now" and he hopes to be ready in a few days after X-rays showed no structural damage.

He said he felt pain after a few warmup pitches and exited after a discussion with Maddon.

"He told me if there's anything at all, he didn't want me in there," Hendricks said.

SEENs

Actor and comedian Bill Murray was back cheering on the Cubs for the second night in a row. But no, he wasn't wearing an "I Ain't Afraid of No Goat" shirt as he did on Friday.

Former Cubs closer Lee Smith threw out the ceremonial first pitch , and Chicago native and former WWE star CM Punk delivered the "Play Ball!" call before the game.

Actor Jeff Garlin sang "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" during the seventh-inning stretch.

UP NEXT

Giants: Bumgarner has pitched 23 consecutive postseason innings and is 8-3 with a 1.94 ERA in 13 postseason starts and 15 appearances.

Cubs: Arrieta won 18 games but had a 4.60 ERA in five starts last month. He gave up seven runs in a loss to Pittsburgh on Sept. 28.

Cueto splendid but Giants lose 1-0 to Cubs on Baez HR in 8th

CHICAGO (AP) — Johnny Cueto was doing his best Madison Bumgarner impersonation, right up until Javier Baez spoiled it with one big swing.

Cueto gave up a home run to Baez in the eighth inning, and that was all Jon Lester and the Chicago Cubs needed to beat the San Francisco Giants 1-0 Friday night in Game 1 of their NL Division Series.

"Johnny threw a beautiful game and the guy got enough of it to leave the ballpark," San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. "But what a job he did. It's just a beautiful game he pitched."

Making his first postseason start in a Giants uniform, Cueto was almost as dominant as Bumgarner was in shutting out the New York Mets in the wild-card game Wednesday night. But with Lester stifling the Giants over eight spotless innings, Baez's one-out homer was the difference.

Baez sent Angel Pagan scrambling back to the left-field wall with a towering drive into a stiff wind. The ball landed in the basket atop the Wrigley Field ivy, whipping the crowd of 42,148 into a frenzy.

Buster Posey hit a two-out double off Aroldis Chapman with two outs in the ninth before Hunter Pence bounced to second, giving the Cubs the lead in the best-of-five series after they rolled to a major league-leading 103 wins during the regular season.

The Giants, seeking their fourth World Series championship since 2010, will send former Cubs pitcher Jeff Samardzija to the mound against major league ERA leader Kyle Hendricks on Saturday.

San Francisco could not have asked for much more from Cueto, who joined the team as a free agent last offseason after signing a $130 million, six-year contract. The right-hander gave up only three hits and struck out 10, his career high in the postseason, without issuing a walk.

But with Lester matching him zero for zero, this wound up being the sixth straight one-run game between San Francisco and Chicago.

"We both were pitching a great ballgame," Cueto said through a translator.

It was the second consecutive postseason complete game for Cueto, who tossed a two-hitter for Kansas City to beat the New York Mets in Game 2 of last year's World Series. This one came on the heels of the latest masterpiece by Bumgarner, the October ace who pitched San Francisco to the 2014 championship and has thrown 23 straight scoreless innings in the postseason.

Cueto was pitching so well that Bochy opted to let him bat with two outs and none on in the eighth rather than send up a pinch hitter.

"He felt great. He was throwing the ball very well," Bochy said. "And what was impressive after a home run, he settled down and made great pitches. Just one pitch got away from him."

Had the Giants been threatening, Cueto would have been lifted for a pinch hitter, and Hunter Strickland would have come in to pitch the eighth.

Cueto was dominant from the start, retiring his first 10 batters before Kris Bryant doubled. Cueto kept the Cubs off balance all night, mixing pitches as well as deliveries.

The Giants helped Cueto with some terrific defensive plays, such as when Gorkys Hernandez made a sliding catch on David Ross' drive to the center-field warning track in the third. Second baseman Kelby Tomlinson robbed Ben Zobrist with a diving stop on his grounder to end the fourth.

But there were also some issues on the bases, whether it was Hernandez getting thrown out trying to steal second on a bad jump even though Lester is not known for holding runners. Conor Gillaspie got picked off first base by Ross in the third.

Posey also was unable to score from first on Pagan's double to shallow left because he hesitated at second. The ball got under Ben Zobrist's glove, putting runners on second and third before Brandon Crawford grounded out to end the threat.

"It's a tough one, just because . if it's short-hopped and he picks it," Posey said, "I'm not going to be going to third on that play."

BACK IN PLAY

The Giants put Eduardo Nunez on their roster for the NLDS after the third baseman had been sidelined since Sept. 25 with a strained right hamstring. Gillaspie, who hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning of San Francisco's 3-0 win at New York in the wild-card game, got the start at third.

Nunez, an AL All-Star this season with Minnesota, pinch-hit in the ninth and grounded out.

UP NEXT

Giants: Samardzija gets the ball in Game 2 for his first postseason start in the same place he began his major league career. The right-hander was drafted by the Cubs in 2006 and spent his first 6 1/2 seasons with the team before he was traded to Oakland in the 2014 deal that brought shortstop Addison Russell to the Cubs.

Cubs: Coming off a breakout season, Hendricks makes his third career playoff start. The right-hander went 16-8 with a major league-best 2.13 ERA this year. He was nearly unhittable at home, going 9-2 with a 1.32 ERA in 15 games.

Kershaw, Seager, Turner lead LA past Nats 4-3 in NLDS opener

WASHINGTON (AP) — Clayton Kershaw was hardly at his best.

Nothing new when it comes to October.

He allowed eight hits and three runs. He needed 101 pitches just to make it through five innings. His career postseason ERA even rose a bit, up to 4.65.

Didn't matter a bit to the lefty. Only this did: He earned a rare playoff victory.

Backed by early homers from rookie sensation Corey Seager and Justin Turner off Max Scherzer in a matchup of Cy Young Award winners that promised more than it delivered, Kershaw helped the Los Angeles Dodgers edge the Washington Nationals 4-3 Friday in Game 1 of their NL Division Series.

"It was a grind. A lot of guys on base all the time. Definitely wasn't easy," Kershaw said. "As close as you can bend without breaking, I guess."

His work done, Kershaw was able to relax in the dugout, chewing gum and blowing bubbles while watching relievers Joe Blanton, Grant Dayton, Pedro Baez and Kenley Jansen combine to give up one hit over four scoreless innings. Jansen got his first five-out save since April.

"Whatever we've got to do to win, right? Those guys are up to the challenge," Seager said about LA's bullpen. "And they've been up to it all year."

Game 2 in the best-of-five matchup is Saturday at Washington.

Facing the NL East champs, Kershaw's three runs might not sound like an exorbitant total, but an opponent scored that many only once in the lefty's preceding 16 starts. And there was a stop-and-start feel to the evening, because of plenty of boo-inducing mound visits from catcher Yasmani Grandal.

"I wanted to be sure on the signs. We were trying to change 'em up pretty often," said Kershaw, who improved to 3-6 in the playoffs , a far cry from his regular-season record of 126-60 with a 2.37 ERA and three Cy Young Awards. "It was mainly that I had so many guys on second base."

Certainly did.

Kershaw left the bases loaded in the second, and stranded two runners in both the third and fifth — striking out Danny Espinosa along the way each time.

"We had him on the ropes a couple times," Nationals manager Dusty Baker said, "and, you know, the big hit just escaped us."

There was also a baserunning blunder by NL MVP contender Daniel Murphy in the seventh inning.

Murphy, who hadn't started a game since Sept. 17 because of a strained glute muscle, reached when Baez walked him, but then was thrown out trying to steal second. Baker said it was Murphy's decision to run there and acknowledged being surprised by the attempt.

"There's two choices on that," Murphy said. "Either be safe or don't run."

In all, Washington went 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position.

That meant the Nationals repeatedly let Kershaw off the hook. He sat out more than two months with a bad back before returning to the NL West winners in September and hadn't thrown more than 91 pitches since coming back.

So what if he struggled?

"It feels good to win, and it feels good to win in this situation," Kershaw said. "If I had pitched seven shutout innings and we lost, it's a different feeling. At this time of year, you kind of just throw the stats out the window and you just win the game."

He was staked to a 4-0 lead thanks mainly to Seager and Turner, before slowly giving back most of that margin.

Kershaw allowed only one stolen base during 149 innings in the regular season, then allowed two on a single pitch in the third, when Bryce Harper (who had doubled) and Jayson Werth (who had walked) moved up. That became big when Anthony Rendon ripped a single to left field on a slider that didn't really slide, bringing both runners home and getting Washington to 4-2.

Trea Turner's sacrifice fly in the fourth cut LA's lead to a run.

Like Washington's Turner, LA's Seager is a rookie who has not played like one all year long.

On the first pitch he saw from Scherzer, Seager turned on a 97 mph fastball and hit it to the deepest part of Nationals Park, beyond the 402-foot sign in center field, for a 1-0 lead.

Scherzer plunked the next batter, Justin Turner, on the left arm. For whatever reason, the 2013 AL Cy Young Award winner for Detroit — and a 20-game winner who's a leading contender for the NL honor this year — never truly settled in.

The Dodgers made it 4-0 in the third on Chase Utley's RBI single, then Justin Turner's two-run shot on a 77 mph curveball. The ball sailed over the head of Werth, who jumped in vain to try to make a grab, then slammed his glove against the left-field wall.

Homers have been Scherzer's biggest problem the past two seasons: He allowed 27 in 2015, and a major league-high 31 in 2016.

"I made some mistakes, and they cost me," Scherzer said. "I take ownership of that, and I'm accountable for that."

MAKING HISTORY

Baker and LA's Dave Roberts became the first pair of black managers to face off in a postseason series. During pregame introductions, they met near home plate for a long embrace.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Nationals: RHP Stephen Strasburg threw a bullpen hours before Game 1 — his first time on a mound since he hurt his right elbow a month ago. He was ruled out for the NLDS, but the Nationals hope he could return if the team advances. ... All-Star C Wilson Ramos, out for the season with a torn knee ligament, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

UP NEXT

In Game 2, RHP Tanner Roark (16-10, 2.83 ERA) starts for the Nationals, taking the assignment that likely would have gone to Strasburg if he were healthy. LHP Rich Hill (3-2, 1.84 ERA in six starts after a trade from Oakland) will pitch for the Dodgers. He was let go from Washington's Triple-A Syracuse affiliate last year.

Kluber, Indians blank Red Sox 6-0, take 2-0 ALDS lead

CLEVELAND (AP) — Corey Kluber didn't show a speck of rust. Well-rested and ready for the biggest start of his career, he wasn't going to let the Indians lose any momentum.

Cleveland's on some kind of roll.

Fueled by a crowd that included Cavaliers star LeBron James, Kluber carried a shutout into the eighth inning and Lonnie Chisenhall connected for a three-run homer off postseason-cursed David Price, giving the Indians a 6-0 win on Friday over the Boston Red Sox and a 2-0 lead in their AL Division Series.

Looking healthy after a late-season leg injury, Kluber limited the AL East champions to three hits over seven innings as the overlooked Indians, who were given a slim chance of advancing before the series began, moved within one win of returning to the ALCS for the first time since 2007.

"We don't have the big names. We don't have the big contracts or any of that stuff," second baseman Jason Kipnis said. "But we have 25 guys who love to compete and have bought into this team. That's what we've got."

As the for the Red Sox, David Ortiz and his teammates are in serious trouble and have to hope they can get things turned around Sunday in Game 3 at Fenway Park or their turnaround season will be over and Big Papi's career will be done.

"Backs against the wall," manager John Farrell said. "It's pretty clear what lies ahead of us. We go home down 0-2. (Clay) Buchholz on the mound Sunday with an attitude of no tomorrow."

Chisenhall connected in the second inning off Price, who fell to 0-8 in nine playoff starts and must now face the wrath of Red Sox Nation. The left-hander lasted just 3 1/3 innings and once again crumbled with a chance to silence critics who say he can't pitch in the big game.

Despite the loss, a defiant Price is convinced he'll get another chance.

"I know my number is going to be called again to pitch another game in 2016," he said. "I want it. I'll be ready."

The Indians strung together four straight hits — three of them soft singles — to Price in a 4-0 hole after just two innings.

That's all Kluber needed. The Cy Young candidate, who hadn't pitched since straining his quadriceps on Sept. 26, had little issues with the Red Sox, who missed a chance to do some damage against him in the fourth.

Kluber created the jam with two walks before getting Ortiz to swing at the first pitch and pop out. Ortiz slammed his bat to the ground in frustration and Boston's anxiety grew when Kluber struck out Hanley Ramirez looking for the final out.

"We talked before the game about would he be a little bit rusty or would he be really good," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "He answered that question. He was terrific. You go through that lineup and don't give up runs, you're pitching."

Chisenhall's start was somewhat of a surprise since he batted just .217 against lefties this season.

Francona, however, likes to put his best defense behind Kluber, plus Chisenhall came in batting .364 in his career against Price. The decision paid off in a big way early as Chisenhall's liner to right in the second gave the Indians a 4-0 lead.

As he neared first, Chisenhall raised his arms in triumph. The rest is a blur.

"I don't remember too much running around the bases," he said. "I remember seeing it go out and I knew it was a home run, so I slowed down pretty quickly. It was a quick run around the bases."

Before the Indians took the field, James, who led the Cavaliers to the city's first pro sports championship since 1964 in June, spoke to the crowd.

"It's always us against the world," James said.

Right now, Cleveland's on top.

BEANTOWN BOUND

If anyone knows what awaits the Indians, it's Mike Napoli, who played three seasons in Boston, winning a World Series in 2013.

"We can't let off the pedal with their type of lineup and their fans," Napoli said. "I know what it's like to play there. It's going to be a crazy atmosphere. We need to stick together and keep playing like we know how to."

TRIBE TIDBITS

The Indians have taken a 2-0 lead in the postseason four times. They are 2-1 with the only loss to Boston in the ALDS. ... It was Cleveland's first postseason shutout since Game 1 of the 2001 ALDS against Seattle. ... Kluber joined Gene Bearden (1948 World Series Game 3) as the only Cleveland pitchers to throw at least seven shutout innings in their postseason debut.

UP NEXT

Red Sox: Buchholz has had interesting season. He had a 6.35 ERA in his first 10 starts and was demoted to the bullpen. He has tweaked his mechanics and strengthened Farrell's trust by pitching six innings of one-hit ball in his last regular-season start.

Indians: Josh Tomlin lost to the Red Sox on Aug. 15, allowing three runs in 7 2-3 innings.

Blue Jays hit 4 home runs, beat Rangers for 2-0 lead in ALDS

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Talk about a 1-2-3 punch for the Toronto Blue Jays in these playoffs.

The wild-card Blue Jays have rediscovered their power stroke in October, and are going home with a chance to sweep the Texas Rangers in the AL Division Series after a 5-3 win Friday.

Edwin Encarnacion capped a three-homer burst in the fifth inning off Yu Darvish, and Toronto won on a dreary, misty afternoon for a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five matchup.

One important reminder, though: Last fall, Toronto lost the first two games of the ALDS at home against Texas, then rallied to win the series.

"I learned something last year ... you got to win three games," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "They've got a great team over there. You don't lead the American League, powerhouse league, you don't luck into that."

Wearing spikes that had "No Panic" printed on them, closer Roberto Osuna got a five-out save that sent the Blue Jays home looking to clinch the series in Game 3 Sunday night.

Osuna entered after reliever Francisco Liriano was hit near the back of the head by Carlos Gomez's line drive. Liriano was taken by ambulance after the game to a hospital, where he was checked out and then cleared to fly home with the team that evening. It was Osuna's first appearance since he left the mound in the AL wild-card win Tuesday night with a shoulder injury that left his status in doubt.

Kevin Pillar, Ezequiel Carrera and Encarnacion, who ended the wild-card game with a three-run homer in the 11th inning, hit solo homers in a five-batter span in the fifth. TroyTulowitzki's two-run drive in the second put 20-game winner J.A. Happ and the Blue Jays ahead to stay.

"Getting behind in the count, and they were looking for fastballs," Darvish said through his interpreter. "When I left it on the plate, they got it."

Texas scored twice in the eighth, including Gomez's single that struck Liriano. The pitcher walked off the mound.

A day after Cleveland homered three times in an inning against Boston and won its ALDS opener, the Blue Jays matched the feat against the team that won an AL-high 95 games this year. The home runs boosted the Blue Jays in a game in which they got outhit 13-6.

While Toronto finished the regular season fourth in the majors with 221 homers, only eight came in the last 11 games. They already have eight in three postseason games.

"Home runs are always a good thing," Gibbons said.

Darvish had as many strikeouts (four) in his five innings as homers allowed, becoming the first pitcher in the postseason to allow four homers in a game since Minnesota's Rick Reed against Oakland in Game 3 of the 2002 ALDS.

Texas has lost five straight ALDS games to the Blue Jays since winning the first two games in Toronto last October. The Rangers dropped to 1-11 in ALDS games in their home ballpark, including Cole Hamels' worst postseason outing in the 10-1 series-opening loss Thursday.

"We've come back from a lot this year. ... We all believe in each other," said Texas outfielder Ian Desmond, who drove in two runs but was also thrown out trying to score on a grounder.

Happ allowed nine hits but only run before leaving one batter into the sixth.

"You go into a game knowing that at some point they're going to get their hits," Happ said. "But yeah, it was a battle. It seemed like a long five innings."

Osuna, who afterward said he felt no pain, came in a little earlier than planned, a move that followed Liriano getting struck.

The ball off Gomez's bat was measured at 102 mph, and Liriano turned away just in time to avoid being hit in the face. Gomez winced as the ball caromed into right-center field for a single to make it 5-2.

Desmond drove in a run with a grounder before Osuna struck out Carlos Beltran to end the eighth.

Adrian Beltre was stranded at second after a leadoff double in the ninth.

COOL DOWN

At first pitch, it was overcast with a temperature of 67 degrees, but the game started on time after rain fell overnight and in the early-morning hours at Globe Life Park. It was 90 degrees Thursday at the start of the series opener that was played under bright, sunny conditions.

OUT AT HOME

Desmond had a leadoff double in the seventh, but was later thrown out at the plate after third baseman Josh Donaldson fielded a grounder. The out call stood after a replay challenge by the Rangers.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Blue Jays: 2B Devon Travis was scratched from the starting lineup about an hour before the first pitch because of right knee irritation.

Rangers: RF Shin-Soo Choo was out of the lineup after playing Game 1, but manager Jeff Banister said Choo was fine physically. Choo was on the disabled list four times this year, and had missed 39 games with a broken left forearm until last weekend.

UP NEXT

Blue Jays: One of the two losses this season by RHP Aaron Sanchez, the AL ERA leader at 3.00, was to Texas. He gave up six runs, matching his season high, and was the loser in that May 15 game with the bench-clearing brawl after Toronto star Jose Bautista was punched by Rougned Odor.

Rangers: RHP Colby Lewis is 4-1 with a 2.38 ERA in nine career postseason games (eight starts) for Texas. In 2010, he won the AL Championship Series clincher to get the Rangers to their first World Series, and beat San Francisco in Game 3 for their only victory in that series.

Bumgarner, Gillaspie lead Giants over Mets 3-0; Cubs next

NEW YORK (AP) — Nobody takes to October like Madison Bumgarner and the San Francisco Giants.

Bumgarner pitched a four-hitter for his latest postseason gem, outlasting Noah Syndergaard in a classic duel between aces, and injury substitute Conor Gillaspie hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning that sent San Francisco to a 3-0 victory over the New York Mets in the NL wild-card game Wednesday night.

"This game was everything we thought. Two really outstanding pitchers going at it," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "One of the best postseason games I've been a part of."

Gillaspie connected off All-Star closer Jeurys Familia, who led the majors this year with a club-record 51 saves while allowing only one home run.

With their ninth consecutive victory when facing postseason elimination, Bochy and the Giants advanced to play the NL Central champion Cubs in a best-of-five Division Series. Game 1 is Friday night at venerable Wrigley Field in Chicago.

"I like our chances," Bumgarner said.

The good news for the Cubs as they attempt to end a championship drought that dates to 1908 is this: Bumgarner probably won't start until Game 3 — and would only be available once on full rest.

The big left-hander has been untouchable under pressure.

"It's unbelievable what he's done," Gillaspie said.

The last time Bumgarner was on the mound in the postseason, he saved Game 7 of the 2014 World Series in Kansas City with five scoreless innings on two days' rest to cap one of the greatest playoff performances in baseball history.

Including his four-hit shutout at Pittsburgh in the 2014 wild-card game, he has tossed 23 straight scoreless innings in winner-take-all games — all on the road.

Sandy Koufax. Bob Gibson. Whitey Ford — Bumgarner ranks right up there with any of 'em when it comes to October clutch.

"He's one of the game's great big-game pitchers," Mets manager Terry Collins said.

Asked how he wants to be remembered, Bumgarner said: "I'm a winner. That's all anybody wants to be."

After having the best record in the majors at the All-Star break, San Francisco was 26-42 in the second half before finishing with a four-game winning streak to hold off St. Louis by one game for the final NL playoff spot.

Now, the Giants have a chance to extend their pattern of even-year titles after winning World Series crowns in 2010, '12 and '14.

In a matchup between the past two NL champions, Syndergaard struck out 10 in seven innings of two-hit ball. Familia entered in the ninth and Brandon Crawford lined a leadoff double. Angel Pagan struck out after failing to get a bunt down, and Joe Panik walked.

Gillaspie, starting at third base for injured All-Star Eduardo Nunez and playing his first postseason game, drove a 96 mph pitch to right field and pumped his arm as he rounded first.

"I don't know what I was thinking. Normally I'm not a fired-up guy. I let some frustration out from the first six innings with that swing," said Gillaspie, who was 7 for 14 with five RBIs in his final five games of the regular season.

Before he connected, the Giants had a pinch-hitter on deck to bat for Bumgarner.

When the ball cleared the fence, it stunned a revved-up, orange towel-waving crowd of 44,747 that sank into its Citi Field seats with a collective groan.

"I missed the location," Familia said simply.

With the Giants finally ahead, Bochy sent Bumgarner back out. He closed with a 1-2-3 ninth against the 3-4-5 hitters and smacked his glove in triumph when rookie T.J. Rivera flied out to end it.

San Francisco players hugged each other behind the mound and headed for the clubhouse to celebrate with bubbly, cheered by a happy contingent of Giants fans behind their dugout.

"Bum just did his thing," Bochy said. "We won the game because of him."

With his sizzling fastball clocking 99 mph and long, blond locks dangling down his neck, Syndergaard held San Francisco hitless until Denard Span's two-out single in the sixth.

Mets center fielder Curtis Granderson kept the game scoreless with a courageous grab of Brandon Belt's deep drive, crashing hard with his left shoulder into the padded fence 408 feet from home plate and tumbling to the warning track.

Syndergaard simply overpowered the Giants at times, but Bumgarner kept the Mets off balance by mixing pinpoint pitches and changing speeds from around 93 mph down to 77 mph.

New York came out swinging after Collins said before the game his hitters had seen enough video of Bumgarner over the past two days to know he would challenge them. But the aggressive approach played right into the hands of Bumgarner and the Giants, who never had to use a shaky bullpen that struggled badly down the stretch.

The big lefty was able to get quick outs early and went the distance on 119 pitches, striking out six and walking two — one intentional. He needed only seven pitches to get through each of the first three innings, with the help of a double play.

"I really thought, 'Hey look, if we can get to him early,'" Collins said. "We probably need to do a little better job of working the count."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Giants: Nunez (strained right hamstring) was left off the wild-card roster. An AL All-Star this season with Minnesota, he was acquired in a July 28 trade but hasn't played since Sept. 25.

Mets: INF Wilmer Flores (wrist) was missed, particularly because of his prodigious numbers against left-handed pitching. Flores has been sidelined since Sept. 10 after getting hurt in a home-plate collision. Surgery is planned this week to remove the hamate bone in his right wrist, and Flores is expected to be healthy for spring training next year.

THEIR TIME OF YEAR

The Giants have outscored opponents 50-11 in their last nine postseason elimination games. They have won all 11 postseason rounds under Bochy, matching manager Joe Torre and the 1998-2001 New York Yankees for the longest streak in major league history.

FAMILY TIES

New York had a runner on second when Bumgarner caught Asdrubal Cabrera's not-so-hard liner to end the eighth inning. Pumped up by the play, he tossed the ball deep into the stands as he approached the dugout. "Just to be able to snag that thing was pretty big for us," Bumgarner said. "It's OK to say it now since nobody knows, but that was our family section, so just threw the ball there."

HEAT INDEX

Syndergaard fired 42 pitches at least 98 mph — more than the Phillies (41) and Indians (35) threw all year, according to a tweet from Inside Edge.

UP NEXT

Giants: RHP Johnny Cueto figures to start the Division Series opener against LHP Jon Lester. The Cubs had the top record in the majors this year at 103-58.

Mets: Open next season April 3 at home against Atlanta.