San Francisco at Cincinnati: Game 5, NLDS
By Jason McIntyre
Cincinnati, which won the first two games of the NLDS in San Francisco, and came home thinking NLCS … have flopped. Now, they face elimination. Against one of the best pitchers in the National League.
Gulp.
After outscoring the Giants 14-2 on the road, the Reds have returned home and stunk up the Great American Ballpark. Cincinnati never lost three in a row at home this season, but hasn’t seemed to recover from a 10th inning gaffe by Scott Rolen in game three that gave the Giants life.
This afternoon’s pitching matchup: Matt Latos (two wins against the Giants this season) goes for the Reds; Matt Cain (4th in the NL in ERA; 2nd in WHIP) for the Giants.
The good news, for Cincinnati fans: Cain is 0-3 with a 5.50 ERA against the Reds in 2012.
If the Reds blow this, chalk it up as just another Ohio choke. Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Indians … ah, Ohio, where the stench of failure has been rampant since, well, forever.