Giants-Cubs Game 3 a wild-but-true classic

SAN FRANCISCO — They’ve been there, done that, yet there are still nights when they feel like Little Leaguers who just hit their first over-the-fence homer or played their first game that ended after the Dairy Queen closed.

This was one of those, and just before it was over, Joe Panik experienced the longest seconds of his life.

Game Date Time Matchup TV/Highlights Gm 1 Oct. 7   CHC 1, SF 0 Gm 2 Oct. 8   CHC 5, SF 2 Gm 3 Oct. 10   SF 6, CHC, 5 (13) Gm 4 Oct. 11 8:30 p.m. CHC @ SF FS1 *Gm 5 Oct. 13 8:30 p.m. SF @ CHC FS1 *- If necessary | All times listed ET • Division Series start time scenarios • Giants vs. Cubs NLDS coverageShop for postseason gear: Cubs | Giants

Those came between the time he made contact with a Mike Montgomery fastball and when the ball banged off the right-field wall at AT&T Park, allowing Brandon Crawford to score the game-winning run in the 13th inning of Game 3 of the National League Division Series (Game 4 on Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. ET on FS1).

When Panik could breathe again, the Giants had a 6-5 victory over the Cubs.

“I think that ball hung up a little longer than I wanted it to,” Panik said. “I knew I hit it well and I knew it was going to at least get off the wall, but it felt like forever for that thing to get off the wall.”

This was a must-win game for the Giants, who have now won 10 consecutive elimination games, and somewhere along the way it took on the timeless quality that the best games have. There were more twists and turns than on Lombard Street, including Conor Gillaspie’s eighth-inning triple off Aroldis Chapman and a ninth-inning home run by Kris Bryant, and enough great defensive plays to make even the players shake their heads.

“Good baseball game,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. “That’s my takeaway. 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. …

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