The Cubs and Giants played 13 innings Monday night, both teams coming back to force the game into extra innings. Down 3-0 early, Denard Span scored the first two Giants runs after doubling and tripling. That led to the eighth inning, when Aroldis Chapman was asked to act as a fireman, and came into the game with no one out after Brandon Belt singled and Buster Posey walked. After striking out Hunter Pence, Chapman blew the lead on a Connor Gillaspie triple, then a Brandon Crawford single gave the Giants and insurance run.

Serigo Romo entered the ninth as a traditional closer, with no one on and a two-run lead. He walked Dexter Fowler, however, then Kris Bryant smacked a two-run homer, and the game was destined to continue for a while.

Mike Montgomery came on to pitch extra frames for the Cubs. He kept the Giants in check. In the 13th, the Cubs put two on with one out, but pinch hitter David Ross grounded into a double play. In the bottom of the inning, with Montgomery still in, Crawford and Joe Panik hit back-to-back doubles, and the Giants string of winning elimination games remains intact. San Francisco wins 6-5.

When I went to bed, it appeared the most memorable part of the game would be Jake Arrieta‘s home run off Madison Bumgarner. Now, that’s a footnote.