Oct. 12 (UPI) -- A fifth-inning home run by veteran third baseman Evan Longoria was enough to lead the San Francisco Giants to a narrow Game 3 win and a 2-1 lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS.
The Giants, who beat the Dodgers 1-0 on Monday in Los Angeles, can eliminate their rivals with a victory in Game 4 on Tuesday at Dodger Stadium.
Longoria smacked his 407-foot, game-winning homer off Dodgers ace Max Scherzer to claim Game 3. Scherzer allowed just three hits and issued 10 strikeouts, in addition to his lone run allowed.
Giants pitcher Alex Wood allowed two hits over 4 2/3 innings.
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"When you get to the postseason, you can always lose by one pitch," Scherzer told reporters. "That comes into play. I lost it on one pitch."
Wind played a major role in Game 3's outcome. The Dodgers hit several balls hard into the outfield, but they stayed in the park due to the strong breeze.
"The wind played a big factor," Dodgers catcher Will Smith told reporters. "A lot of balls in the outfield just didn't carry, but that's not why we lost.
"We need to do a little more and move the ball over and get some more runs across."
Veteran first baseman Albert Pujols was the only player with multiple hits in Game 3. He went 2 for 2 for the Dodgers.
The Giants bullpen allowed three hits on no runs over the final 4 1/3 innings. Relief pitcher Camilo Doval did not allow a hit or a run over the final two innings, earning his first save this postseason.
The winner of the best-of-five series battles the Milwaukee Brewers or Atlanta Braves in the NLCS. The Braves lead the Brewers 2-1 in that series.
The Dodgers host the Giants in Game 4 at at 9 p.m. EDT Tuesday at Dodger Stadium. The game airs on TBS. The Braves host the Brewers in Game 4 at 5 p.m. EDT Tuesday in Atlanta.
