MLB: San Francisco 6, Cincinnati 4

Buster Posey hit a grand slam homer during a six-run fifth Thursday, vaulting San Francisco into the NL Championship Series with a 6-4 win over Cincinnati.

The Giants became the first team to win a division series after losing the first two games at home and they will now take on either Washington or St. Louis for the National League pennant.

The Nationals evened their division series with the Cardinals at 2-2 thanks to a 2-1 win in Washington Thursday.

Mat Latos started for Cincinnati, having thrown 4 1/3 innings of relief in the opener of the series after Johnny Cueto suffered an injury in the first frame.

Latos worked out of a first-inning jam on Thursday and appeared to settle in after that while allowing a lone hit during the second, third and fourth.

Things unraveled in a hurry in the fifth, however, when Gregor Blanco led off the inning with a single and promptly scored the game's first run on a Brandon Crawford triple.

After pitcher Matt Cain grounded out, Angel Pagan reached base on a fielding error at shortstop by Zack Cosart that allowed Crawford to score.

Latos then walked Marco Scutaro and Pablo Sandoval singled to load the bases. That brought up Posey, who hit a 2-2 pitch over the wall in left-center for the game's big blow.

Cincinnati battled back on a two-run double by Brandon Phillips in the sixth, a solo homer from Ryan Ludwick in the sixth and Ludwick's RBI single in the ninth.

The Reds had the tying runs on base with one out in the ninth, but Sergio Romo retired both Jay Bruce and Scott Rolen to end the game and preserve the win for Cain.

Cincinnati outhit San Francisco 12-9. The Reds have not won a post-season series in 17 years.

The Giants will be playing in their sixth NLCS, having last done so two years ago when they went on to win the World Series.

source: upi.com

Hakeem Nicks injury update: Screw reportedly placed in foot

Giants receiver Hakeem Nicks underwent successful surgery Friday in which a screw inserted into his injured right foot, the New York Post reported.

Nicks is expected to miss 12 weeks after suffering a fracture in the foot Thursday during OTAs.

The Post said the procedure was performed in Nicks' hometown of Charlotte, N.C., by noted foot/ankle specialist Dr. Robert Anderson.

Nicks won't available for the Giants' mini-camp from June 12-14, but could return during training camp, which kicks off on July 26.

Nicks' injury has meant a higher profile for Giants second-round draft pick Rueben Randle at OTAs.

So far, the rookie receiver from LSU has impressed.

“They thought he was the most NFL-ready receiver in the draft,” ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported on ESPN 32. “What they’ve seen so far has justified that.”

source: aol.sportingnews.com

Cowboys' DeMarcus Ware lauds Giants' late-season swagger

The intensity of the Cowboys-Giants rivalry didn't stop Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware from paying the Giants a compliment. The Giants beat the Cowboys twice last season, including their crucial showdown in Week 17.

"I really don’t like to talk about the Giants, but their team camaraderie, where they had the adversity right at the beginning, and then all of a sudden, it really kicked in," Ware said on NBC Sports Talk. "The last maybe eight games, the blood sweat and tears really kicked in, the guys started feeling it, and they had that swagger about themselves."

Had the Cowboys beaten the Giants in the 2011 regular-season finale, the Cowboys would have won the NFC East, while the Giants would have missed the playoffs. Instead, the Giants went on their Super Bowl run, while the Cowboys went on vacation. For the Cowboys to become the championship contenders they hope to be, Ware said the onus is on the players.

"It’s not on the coaches at all, it’s all about the players," Ware said.

source: http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2012-04-24/cowboys-demarcus-ware-lauds-giants-late-season-swagger