Arkansas pulls out Game 3 in the 9th

Mike Fiers and Edison Volquez matched one another for 6-plus innings but Falcons pulled out another late victory with a run in the 9th for a 2-1 win in San Francisco. The Game 3 triumph puts the defending champion Arkansas in a commanding 3-0 lead in the Best-of-7 semifinal series.

It was the first game in the series that San Francisco got the better start but it wasn't quite that much better to put away Arkansas. Lorenzo Cain, who had a big Game 1 hitting all but a triple, again found himself in the middle of things, accounting for both Falcons' runs.

The Experience struck first, with a series of singles in the 5th inning. Jonathan Lucroy and Andrelton Simmons both singled and Brandon Belt later drove in Lucroy on a single before Neil Walker flied to center to end the inning. Still, San Francisco held a 1-0 lead.

Fiers, who came within two outs of throwing a perfect game for Hopatcong last season, seemed to be in control most of the night, with nary a batter advancing past second base. Over 7 innings, he only gave up four hits and struck out 6 without walking a batter; the only blemish was a 6th inning home run by Cain that tied the game at 1-1.

Edinson Volquez scattered 8 hits over 6 1/3 innings but just one run, walking 1 and striking out 4 for the Golden Falcons. He got out of a few jams, including a double play to end the 4th inning with two men on.

After 100 pitches by Fiers, The Experience turned to the bullpen. Darren O'Day yielded a single in the 8th then got the hook after Cain led off the 9th with a single. Francisco Rodriguez got Mark Canha, who had 2 hits, to ground to third for an out but advanced Cain to second. Mitch Moreland grounded to short for the second out and just as Rodriguez thought he could get out of the jam, Anthony Rizzo ripped a double to right center, driving home Cain for a 2-1 lead.

Carson Smith came on for the 9th, he promptly struck out the first two batters before getting Simmons to ground to 3rd for the final out of the game.

The Arkansas bullpen came in the 7th after 1-out single by Simmons in a 1-1 game and kept The Experience hitless the rest of the way. Joaquin Benoit closed out the 7th despite a walk. Kelvin Herrerra also erased a leadoff walk in the 8th with a double play.

San Francisco's pen surrended just 3 hits in 2 innings but it was enough to scratch out a run. O'Day was charged with the loss. Herrera's scoreless 8th earned him the win and Smith's perfect 9th got him the save.

The Experience left 8 men on base to the Falcons' 5. Belt and Simmons both had 2 hits a piece for San Francisco.

Game 4 will be Wednesday in San Francisco where Arkansas can wrap up the series in a sweep. Arkansas could turn to their ace Dallas Keuchel, who started Game 1. San Francisco's Game 1 starter, Adam Warren, isn't likely to be available. They could tap lefty Scott Kazmir, who started Game 4 of the the 1st round series against Vancouver.