Sandoval drives in 3 as Giants force Game 5 with Reds

Cincinnati, OH, United States (4E Sports) – Pablo Sandoval drove in three runs and Tim Lincecum was stellar in his bullpen role as the San Francisco Giants peppered the Cincinnati Reds, 8-4, to force a deciding game of their National League Division Series Wednesday at Great American Ball Park.

The Giants have emerged from a 0-2 hole and forced a do-or-die game against the Reds.

San Francisco sluggers produced three home runs in the match but there was no bigger blast than the two-run coup by Sandoval in the 7th inning.

With the Reds still within striking distance, Sandoval’s homer turned a 6-3 lead to a five-run spread after sending Jose Arredondo’s hurl over the wall.

Giants starter Barry Zito allowed four hits and two runs into the three innings. However, Lincecum stepped in on the mound in the fourth inning and hounded the Reds sluggers through the crucial innings of the game. The former CY Young Award winner allowed two hits and one run over 4.1 innings.

Reds starting pitcher Mike Leake surrendered six hits and five runs into the fifth inning and left fielder Ryan Ludwick came through with a homer in the third.

Game 5 of the Giants-Reds NLDS series is scheduled on Thursday at Great American Ball Park.

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