With the help of Joaquin Arias' brilliant performance, the San Francisco Giants beat the Cincinnati Reds 2-1 in Tuesday's game to force a Game 4.
Arias starred in the Giants' win after hitting a grounder and covering the 90 feet, much to the anxiety of the home crowd at the stadium thanks to Scott Rolen who bobbled the short-hop.
Arias said: "That's the fastest I've ever run to first."
The loss only added to the Reds' frustration as they've been waiting for as many as 17 years to overcome their postseason futility.
Sergio Romo, the Giants' pitcher said: "These are the type of games we've played all season long. We are a gritty and grinding team."
The Giants could manage just three hits against Homer Bailey. However they got two of those hits in the 10th inning. The Reds on the other hand finished with four hits.
Meanwhile an obviously disappointed Rolen said about his late mistake: "I've gone through the play many times in my mind between then and now, and I think I would play it the same way. It hit my glove. I just couldn't get it to stick."
In their fourth game on Wednesday Barry Zito will pitch for San Franscisco. They have been victorious in the last 11 games he started. Cincinnati might try Johnny Cueto who missed the opener due to injury.
The Reds manager, Dusty Baker said they hadn't yet decided whether to include Cueto in their next game or to replace him with Mike Leake.
"It's very difficult, but it all depends on if your ace can't go or whatever it is," he said. "That's part of the conversation - us going without him. We realize what's at stake."
Cincinnati had reached the NL championship series in 1995. They've been unable to win a home playoff since then.
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