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Giants vs. Cardinals: Here we go again in NLCS

Former Giant Barry Zito took the mound in Game 1 of the 2012 National League championship series for San Francisco and pitched “an exceptional game” to shut down St. Louis and spark a Giants sweep. (Associated Press)
R.B. Fallstrom Associated Press

ST. LOUIS – Two years later, the sting is still fresh for Mike Matheny.

His St. Louis Cardinals were seemingly on the verge of a second straight trip to the World Series under manager Tony La Russa’s first-year successor, and instead the San Francisco Giants ended up using them as a springboard to the championship.

Barry Zito got it started, defying his recent track record, and Marco Scutaro batted .500 and became MVP of the N.L. Championship Series. Next thing the Cardinals knew, they were back home cleaning out lockers while the Giants finished the postseason on a seven-game winning streak, sweeping the Tigers in the World Series.

“Obviously, the Zito game sticks out in everybody’s mind,” Matheny said. “He threw an exceptional game and it seemed like things turned around at that point.”

The Giants outscored the Cardinals 20-1 the last three games, and carried that momentum into a championship. Minus those two surprise stars, they’re back for more: Giants-Cards once again in the NLCS.

“There are a lot of players from 2012 on both sides, and I think you learn from that,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “It’s a different year, though.”

The Cardinals have the home-field advantage again in the best-of-seven matchup that begins tonight with aces Adam Wainwright and Madison Bumgarner squaring off.

St. Louis is sticking with the same rotation as in the division series. After Wainwright, it’ll be Lance Lynn, John Lackey and Shelby Miller starting Game 2, 3 and 4.

Bochy said Jake Peavy will start Game 2, but declined to go further, leaving Tim Hudson and Ryan Vogelsong in limbo a bit.

“Right now we’re going to leave it at these two,” Bochy said.

St. Louis is in the NLCS for the fourth straight year and is seeking its third World Series trip in that span, having won it all in 2011. The Giants are in the NLCS for the third time in five seasons, and took the Series in 2010 and ’12.

“It’s almost more relaxing than the regular season,” catcher Buster Posey said. “This is the fun time. I think both teams are lucky, too, because we play in front of big crowds all season.

“We are fortunate to have fans who pack it out.”