San Francisco Giants Travis Ishikawa reacts after hitting a walk-off three-run home run during the ninth inning of Game 5 of the National League baseball championship series against the St. Louis Cardinals Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014, in San Francisco. The Giants won 6-3 to advance to the World Series. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
San Francisco Giants’ Gregor Blanco makes a falling catch on a ball hit by St. Louis Cardinals’ Matt Holliday during the fifth inning of Game 5 of the National League baseball championship series Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
San Francisco Giants’ Joe Panik hits a two-run home run during the third inning of Game 5 of the National League baseball championship series against the St. Louis Cardinals Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
San Francisco Giants’ Pablo Sandoval celebrates a double against the St. Louis Cardinals during the fourth inning of Game 5 of the National League baseball championship series Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
San Francisco Giants center fielder Gregor Blanco smiles after catching a fly ball hit by St. Louis Cardinals’ Matt Holliday during the fifth inning of Game 5 of the National League baseball championship series Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
St. Louis Cardinals’ Michael Wacha throws during the ninth inning of Game 5 of the National League baseball championship series against the San Francisco Giants Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
San Francisco Giants’ Michael Morse celebrates a home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the eighth inning of Game 5 of the National League baseball championship series Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
San Francisco Giants’ Joe Panik hits a two run home run against the San Francisco Giants during the third inning of Game 5 of the National League baseball championship series Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
San Francisco Giants center fielder Gregor Blanco smiles after catching a fly ball hit by St. Louis Cardinals’ Matt Holliday during the fifth inning of Game 5 of the National League baseball championship series Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
SAN FRANCISCO — Travis Ishikawa hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning, sending the San Francisco Giants to the World Series with a 6-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday night.
These every-other-year Giants clinched the NL Championship Series in Game 5 and now will face the Royals in an all wild-card Fall Classic that begins Tuesday night in Kansas City.
Pablo Sandoval singled to start the ninth against Michael Wacha, making his first appearance of the postseason for the Cardinals. After an out, Brandon Belt walked to bring up Ishikawa, who drove a 2-0 pitch into the elevated seats in right field.
Ishikawa hit the first game-ending homer in NLCS history. And it was the first time a homer sent the Giants into the World Series since perhaps the most famous drive ever in baseball — Bobby Thomson’s “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” in a 1951 playoff.
Ishikawa knew right away on his first career postseason homer, raising his right arm into the air as he watched his ball sail into the seats. He was immediately mobbed at home plate after he rounded the bases as fireworks shot off from the center field scoreboard.
Pinch-hitter Michael Morse homered leading off the eighth against Pat Neshek, who replaced Adam Wainwright to start the inning, to tie it 3-all.
Morse was batting for Madison Bumgarner, who was named NLCS MVP.
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