The St. Louis Cardinals had to bring in Mitchell Boggs—one-third of their game-closing trio—an inning early in Game 3 of the NLCS against the San Francisco Giants, when seventh-inning specialist Edward Mujica ran into trouble with one out and San Francisco threatened to score. If that doesn't seem like it should be a big deal, you haven't watched Mike Matheny manage; Mujica to Boggs to Jason Motte is his Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance, and he typically neither tinkers nor chances with it. (Ever.) (I'm sorry.)
But the move paid off: Boggs, who struggled early in the postseason, came through with consecutive strikeouts against Giants sluggers Hunter Pence and Brandon Belt to save the Cardinals' thin 2-1 lead.
With six outs standing between them and their second win of the series, the Cardinals find themselves in an oddly precarious situation. Ahead of a possible rain delay the Cardinals have already burned Mujica and Trevor Rosenthal, and to bring Boggs in Matheny made the incomprehensible decision to remove starting outfielder Allen Craig, which limits their offense.
But: They only have six outs to go, thanks to Mitchell Boggs.