Joe Panik hits walk-off double in 13th as Giants stave off elimination with 6-5 win over Cubs

SAN FRANCISCO – Just when it appeared their season was about to go up in smoke, the Giants pulled some even-year magic out of their black-and-orange hats.
Joe Panik’s RBI double in the 13th vaulted San Francisco to a 6-5 win over the Cubs in Game 3 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park.

 “It's just about the character of the guys,” Panik said. “If we're breathing, we're not out of it.”
Conor Gillaspie’s two-run triple in the eighth against Aroldis Chapman looked like it would be enough to keep San Francisco’s season alive, but Kris Bryant hit a game-tying, two-run blast off closer Sergio Romo in the ninth.
“Good baseball game; that's my takeaway,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. “I think that both sides should be somewhat exhilarated. Obviously they win, so they're going to feel a bit better about it, but there's nothing on our side to be ashamed of.”
Brandon Crawford, who drove in a run during the Giants’ three-run eighth, opened the 13th with a leadoff double against lefty Mike Montgomery, who was starting his fifth inning of relief.

Panik got ahead, 2-1, then socked a 92 mph fastball off the high wall in right-center, easily scoring Crawford from second to end the 5:03 marathon and keep the Giants’ season alive.
The Giants have now won 10 consecutive elimination games, the longest streak in postseason history.
“That's one of the best, most exciting games I've ever been involved in,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “The game had everything; pitching, timely hitting on both sides. It was just a fun game to be involved with. I know it's easy to say because we came out on top, but both sides, you saw two good teams going at it. It's hard to have a better game to watch than what we had tonight.”
San Francisco had been down to its final six outs, trailing by a run in the eighth inning. Brandon Belt singled against lefty Travis Wood to put the tying run on base, then Buster Posey drew a walk against Hector Rondon to put runners at first and second.
Not wanting to take any chances, Maddon called on Chapman for the final six outs. But as we’re reminded time and time again, it’s not as easy as Mariano Rivera made it look for all those years.

Chapman struck out Hunter Pence with a 101 mph fastball for the first out, taking a little air out of the sellout crowd. Gillaspie, whose three-run homer off Jeurys Familia vaulted the Giants to a wild card win over the Mets last week, fouled off the first pitch he saw before crushing a 101 mph fastball to right-center, scoring both runners as he cruised into third base with a go-ahead triple.