National Baseball League

[jg2977]

Mike Francesa:
“Alright, we gotta talk about this. The Giants just stole both games in Busch Stadium! I mean, that’s not supposed to happen! That’s a Cardinal thing! You don’t come into St. Louis and take two straight. You just don’t.”
Mad Dog Russo:
“NO NO NO NO NO! I’m tellin’ you, Mike, this is what happens when you let a team like San Francisco get loose! They’re swinging the bats like they’re in the middle of July, not the middle of October!”
Mike Francesa:
“Mad Dog, calm down. It’s one game. It’s two games. Yes, it’s not ideal, but it’s not the end of the world.”
Mad Dog Russo:
“Not the end of the world? Not the end of the world? They scored 14 runs, Mike! FOURTEEN! And it wasn’t even like they did it quietly — it was like they were announcing to the world that the Cardinals pitching staff is a joke!”
Mike Francesa:
“Look, I get it. I get it. The Cardinals gave up 14 runs, they gave up 12. That’s ugly. But the series is not over. It’s still 2-0, sure. But it’s still a best-of-seven. The Cardinals have plenty of baseball left.”
Mad Dog Russo:
“Plenty of baseball left? They just got outscored 29 to 21 in two games, Mike! And Bill Valenzuela? That guy is playing like he’s the next Babe Ruth! Three homers in Game 1, two in Game 2, and a go-ahead two-run double in the ninth! That’s not a slump — that’s a declaration!”
Mike Francesa:
“Valenzuela is on fire, I’m not denying that. He’s the story here. But the Cardinals aren’t done. They’ve got a home crowd, they’ve got talent, and the Giants’ pitching… look, the Giants’ pitching has been fine, but they’re not unbeatable.”
Mad Dog Russo:
“Fine? Fine? Mike, the Cardinals’ starter goes 3 innings, gives up 7 runs, and then the bullpen comes in and gives up more! This is not just ‘fine pitching,’ this is disaster pitching!”
Mike Francesa:
“Okay, okay. I hear you. But the point is: the Cardinals have to stop letting this get into their heads. They’ve got to take one game in San Francisco, and then the whole narrative changes.”
Mad Dog Russo:
“Take one game in San Francisco?! You’re asking them to do the impossible! The Giants are playing with confidence, Mike! They’re not scared. The Cardinals look rattled!”
Mike Francesa:
“Rattled, maybe. But still alive. Still alive. That’s the key.”
Mad Dog Russo:
“Alive? They’re in a hole, Mike. A deep hole. And Valenzuela just keeps swinging like the Devil is on his shoulder!”
Mike Francesa:
“Alright, alright. Calm down. It’s only two games. We’ll see what happens at Oracle Park.”
Mad Dog Russo:
“Only two games?! Mike, I’m telling you — the Giants just put the Cardinals on notice. This series is not going to be easy. It’s not going to be pretty. And if the Cardinals don’t wake up, this thing is over before it starts!”
Mike Francesa:
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll give you this: the Cardinals need a response. They need it fast. But let’s not write them off yet.”
Mad Dog Russo:
“Don’t write them off? I’m not writing them off — I’m just saying the Giants are on a different level right now!”
Mike Francesa:
“Okay. Fine. We’ll see if that level holds when they get to Oracle Park. But I’m telling you: it’s still a series.”
Mad Dog Russo:
“A series? Yeah, a series where the Giants are already leading 2-0. I’ll take that series any day.”

[jg2977]

Harry Doyle (Cleveland radio, audibly annoyed):
“Well… there it is again. Another day at the ballpark, another Rays batting practice session disguised as a playoff game. The Indians lose Game 2, 11–5, and now they’re heading home down two games to none. And folks, I don’t know how else to put this — the pitching staff just got torched. Absolutely torched.”
(sighs)
“Francisco Hernandez. Remember the name, because Cleveland sure won’t forget it. Two home runs, four trips on base, three runs driven in. Every time the Indians got a little momentum — bang — Hernandez sends it screaming into the seats. That fourth inning? That was the game right there. Solo shot, crowd erupts, and suddenly Tampa Bay never looks back.”
“And don’t let the box score fool you — the Indians hit the ball! Twelve hits! Hollander had a night, Alay had a night, but you leave eleven runners on base, you ground into double plays, and you give up four home runs to one pitcher… well, you’re gonna be packing your bags wondering what just happened.”
(pause)
“This was supposed to be a tight series. Instead, it’s starting to look like Cleveland brought a knife to a cannon fight.”
Colin Cowherd:
“Harry, let me jump in here — because this is exactly what I’ve been talking about all postseason. Cleveland is talented, but Tampa Bay is built for October.”
“Here’s the difference: Tampa Bay doesn’t just hit — they punish mistakes. You miss a location? Home run. You fall behind in the count? Extra bases. Hernandez, Mojica, Abrego — this lineup doesn’t let you off the hook. Cleveland does.”
“And look, Cleveland’s offense is fine. It’s solid. But solid doesn’t win you playoff series when the other team is explosive. Tampa Bay is explosive. Cleveland is methodical. And when things go sideways, Tampa Bay steps on your throat.”
Harry Doyle:
“Well, Colin, I hate to say it, but I can’t argue much with that. Cleveland keeps answering… and Tampa Bay keeps answering louder. Every time the Indians score, the Rays come right back with two or three. That’s demoralizing. That’s playoff baseball cruelty.”
“Now the series shifts to Jacobs Field, and thank goodness for that. Because if Cleveland doesn’t get its pitching straightened out immediately, this thing is gonna be over before the home crowd even has time to get mad.”
Colin Cowherd:
“And here’s the pressure point, Harry: Game 3 is a must-win. You go down 3–0? History says you’re done. No speeches. No vibes. No ‘we’ll figure it out.’ You win Game 3, or you’re watching Tampa Bay book a ticket to the World Series.”
Harry Doyle (dryly):
“Well… I guess that settles it. Indians fans, buckle up. Because this thing has officially gone from ‘series’ to ‘emergency.’”
(pause)
“We’ll see if Cleveland has an answer. Because right now… Tampa Bay has all of them.”

[jg2977]

Mike Francesa:
“Alright, now we got ourselves a series. This is exactly what I was talkin’ about. The Cardinals go on the road, hostile building, down two games to none… and they win 8–4. That’s how you respond.”
Mad Dog Russo (very conflicted Giants fan energy):
“Mike, I hate this. I HATE this. Because the Giants had a chance to put their foot on their neck, and instead they let St. Louis right back in the door. You go up 2–0, you’re at home, and you give up eight runs? Come on!”
Mike Francesa:
“This is playoff baseball. You’re not gonna sweep everybody. St. Louis needed this game, and they got it with their best player stepping up. Mike Jankowski was sensational. Two homers, five RBIs, four hits — that’s a star performance.”
Mad Dog Russo:
“Oh he killed ‘em, Mike. He absolutely killed ‘em. Every time the Giants crawled back, Jankowski said, ‘Nope, not tonight.’ That three-run shot in the seventh? That was the knockout punch.”
Mike Francesa:
“And Weitzel gave them what they needed. Seven innings, four runs, kept them in control. Not dominant, but steady. In a spot like that, steady wins.”
Mad Dog Russo:
“Steady? I’ll tell you what wasn’t steady — Bachus! He was hittable all afternoon! Twelve hits in six innings! You can’t do that against a team fighting for its season!”
Mike Francesa:
“Fair. But let’s also say this: the Giants didn’t cash in. Valenzuela goes 0-for, Campbell gives you nothing at the top, and you only score four runs at home. That’s not enough.”
Mad Dog Russo:
“And that’s the scary part, Mike. This Giants lineup has been carrying them, and tonight it stalled. Perdomo homers, Fuentes hits, but where’s the big inning? Where’s the avalanche? It never came.”
Mike Francesa:
“Which is why this series is now interesting. It’s 2–1, Cardinals have life, and they’ve got momentum. Tomorrow’s game? Massive. Absolutely massive.”
Mad Dog Russo:
“If St. Louis wins Game 4, Mike, then this whole thing flips. All of a sudden, the Giants are the ones feelin’ the pressure.”
Mike Francesa:
“Exactly. That’s why you don’t overreact after two games — and that’s why you don’t relax when you’re up two games to none.”
Mad Dog Russo:
“Ugh… I don’t like this at all. I wanted a walkover. Now it’s a fight.”
Mike Francesa:
“Well, you got your fight. And that’s October baseball.”
Mad Dog Russo:
“Yeah… and it’s just gettin’ started.”

[jg2977]

Harry Doyle (measured, content, a little amused):
“Well folks… if you like offense, you got your money’s worth today in Cleveland. Ten innings, nineteen runs, twenty hits by the home team alone — and the Indians finally get themselves back into this League Championship Series.”
Bob Costas:
“It was, in many ways, a throwback postseason game — long, relentless, and unyielding. Cleveland scored in nine of the ten innings, never allowing the Rays to exhale, never allowing Tampa Bay to feel safe despite holding the lead multiple times.”
Harry Doyle:
“And that’s the key, Bob. Tampa Bay hit. They really did. Rod Francia hit three home runs, and yet somehow… it wasn’t enough.”
Bob Costas:
“Because Cleveland answered almost every blow. A run in the first. A run in the second. Again in the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth — and then, finally, the moment that decided the afternoon.”
Harry Doyle:
“Mike Amero… bottom of the tenth… two men on… and he sends everybody home.”
Bob Costas:
“A towering three-run home run off the 21-year-old Basilio Buso, ending a game that had stretched more than three hours in cold rain. Jacobs Field erupted — not just in joy, but in relief.”
Harry Doyle:
“This crowd waited a long time for that one.”
Bob Costas:
“And before that final swing, Cleveland’s offense had been remarkably democratic. Holloway with four hits. Mendez with three. Barrios with three. Lira with three. Amero didn’t even have the loudest line until the last pitch was thrown.”
Harry Doyle:
“They just kept coming, Bob. No big rally early. No knockout punch until the very end. Just… pressure. Constant pressure.”
Bob Costas:
“Pitching became survival. Neither starter escaped unscathed. The bullpens were tested. Tampa Bay used four pitchers, and the last of them simply ran out of margin.”
Harry Doyle:
“And now the series changes tone. Tampa Bay still leads two games to one — but Cleveland finally has proof they can beat this team.”
Bob Costas:
“In October, sometimes that belief is as important as the score.”
Harry Doyle:
“Final from Cleveland: Indians 11, Rays 8 — and suddenly, this series has a pulse.”

[jg2977]

Mike Francesa:
“Alright, let’s just get this out of the way right now. This was not a baseball game — this was a scrimmage. This thing was over before people finished their hot dogs.”
Mad Dog Russo (exasperated, Giants fan joy trying not to explode):
“Mike, this was RIDICULOUS. Twelve–one after three innings. TWENTY-FOUR TO ONE after four! I mean what are we doin’ here?! This is the National League Championship Series, not a spring training split-squad!”
Mike Francesa:
“This was a total mismatch. San Francisco came out angry, locked in, and St. Louis never recovered from the first inning. Six runs right out of the gate, and from that point on, the Cardinals were just… hanging on.”
Mad Dog Russo:
“Hanging on?! Mike, they were getting embarrassed! Edgar Perdomo goes four-for-four — a homer, TWO triples, a double, seven RBIs — he hits for the tour of the park! I don’t know what else you want from the guy!”
Mike Francesa:
“And let’s be clear — when it was 12–1, the Giants were still swinging. When it got to 24–1, they shut it down. They stopped pushing the issue. You could see it.”
Mad Dog Russo:
“Absolutely! They were takin’ pitches, they weren’t runnin’, they weren’t trying to put up forty! And STILL they end up with twenty-six!”
Mike Francesa:
“Because St. Louis’ pitching was completely unraveled. Six pitchers, nobody could stop the bleeding. And then late in the game, the Cardinals put up ten runs that meant absolutely nothing.”
Mad Dog Russo:
“Total stat-padding, Mike! Pure stat-padding! The game was over in the FOURTH inning! That 26-12 final makes it look closer than it was — it wasn’t!”
Mike Francesa:
“This was domination. Period. The Giants scored in five straight innings, twenty-five hits, eight walks — and that’s with them easing off.”
Mad Dog Russo:
“And now it’s 3–1, Mike. ONE WIN AWAY. One win away from going back to the World Series, and they look fresh, they look confident, and they look like they’re enjoying themselves.”
Mike Francesa:
“That’s the biggest thing. They’re loose. They know who they are. Tomorrow, they don’t need fireworks — they just need one solid, professional win.”
Mad Dog Russo:
“Finish it. Don’t let ‘em breathe. End it.”
Mike Francesa:
“Exactly. This series is on the Giants’ terms now.”
Mad Dog Russo:
“And after today, Mike… I don’t see how St. Louis gets up off the mat.”