Nationals vs. Giants: Keys for Each Team to Win NLDS Game 4

After a heartbreaking 18-inning loss in Game 2 of the National League Division Series against the Giants over the weekend, the Washington Nationals made sure not to leave what was left of their heart in San Francisco.

At least for another day.

The Nats took advantage of a Madison Bumgarner throwing error to beat the Giants ace in Game 3 and snap San Francisco's 10-game postseason winning streak.

With renewed life, the Nationals now have a chance to send the series back to D.C. if they can flush the Giants out of the bay in Game 4 on Tuesday night. San Francisco wants no part of that cross-country flight and will be looking to close out the series in front of what will likely be a raucous crowd.

Here's what each team must do in order to emerge victorious in Game 4.

Keys for the Giants

Muster Some Offense

Aside from a meaningless sacrifice fly in the ninth inning of Game 3, the Giants have scored just two runs in their previous 30 innings.

San Francisco's arms have largely masked the deficiency with superb performances, including six shutout innings of relief from Yusmeiro Petit in the Game 2 marathon.

But the Giants' Game 4 starter, right-hander Ryan Vogelsong, is a less reliable option than starters Jake Peavy, Tim Hudson and Madison Bumgarner have been this season. Scoring one or two runs is usually enough for the aforementioned hurlers to keep the Giants in the game, but Vogelsong (8-13, 4.00 ERA) may need more of a cushion.

In fact, he has allowed nine earned runs in 10 innings against Washington this year.

Ben Margot/Associated Press/Associated Press/Associated Press/Associated Press/Associated Press

San Francisco's offensive firepower is typically supplied by the likes of Buster Posey and Pablo Sandoval. But those two have struggled against Washington's Game 4 starter, Gio Gonzalez. Posey is just 3-for-14 against the left-hander while the Panda has managed just one hit in 10 career at-bats against him.

The Giants hitters will need to find a way to solve Gonzalez and put some runs on the board in order to take the pressure off Vogelsong. Even though San Francisco still holds the advantage in the series, Bruce Bochy's team has only scored six runs in the three games, and the focus may need to shift toward offense in Game 4.

Small Ball

Bochy should not expect his offense to suddenly wake up by hitting the ball out of the park.

The Nationals may have that capability, but not the Giants. San Francisco finished 17th in the long ball department during the regular season, and Brandon Belt's 18th-inning bomb on Saturday has been the team's only homer during this series.

If the Giants needed another incentive to play small ball, it is notoriously difficult to hit the ball out of AT&T Park at night—which is when Game 4 will take place.

They could also look back at what happened to Bumgarner in Game 3.

Washington catcher Wilson Ramos' first successful sacrifice bunt since 2011 led to a poor decision by Bumgarner, who tried to nail the lead runner at third base instead of getting the sure out at first base. The San Francisco lefty threw the ball away, and three runs ended up scoring in the inning.

When defenses are forced to make split-second decisions on bunts or well-placed singles, the chance of erring rises. More often than not, fielders spend less time practicing what to do in these situations, and small ball can be an effective weapon when traditional offense isn't getting the job done.

It worked for the Nationals in Game 3, and it could just as easily pay dividends for San Francisco Tuesday night.

Keys for the Nationals

Pay It Forward

If the Giants can win two games on the road, the Nationals should realize the opportunity to do the same is well within reach.

Washington cleared a major hurdle in this series by defeating Bumgarner and will now get an opportunity to face off against Vogelsong, the weak link in San Francisco's postseason rotation.

The Nationals leadoff man, Denard Span, is 5-for-13 with two doubles and a triple against Vogelsong in the past, which bodes well for a Nationals team that wants to get things going early and take the home crowd out of the game as soon as possible

Harry How/Getty Images

Washington will counter with Gonzalez, who has enjoyed success against the Giants. The southpaw is 2-2 with a 2.59 ERA in seven career starts against them but did not face San Francisco this season. The Giants' .708 OPS against lefties this season was 17th in baseball.

It will be up to Gonzalez to send this series back to the nation's capital. If he can accomplish that, the Nationals will have an chance to become the first team to win a best-of-five series after losing the first two at home since—that's right—the 2012 Giants.

The Harper Factor

If there was one player besides starting pitcher Doug Fister whose fingerprints were all over Washington's Game 3 win, it was the team's prodigal son, Bryce Harper.

After scoring the decisive run in the top of the seventh inning and laying out for a superb defensive play in the bottom half, the 21-year-old smashed a 421-foot insurance bomb in the ninth to help secure the 4-1 victory and extend Washington's season.

It was his second home run of the series and third of his postseason career. According to Sports Illustrated's Jay Jaffe, only three players have tallied more long balls in the playoffs before turning 22: Miguel Cabrera, Andruw Jones and Mickey Mantle.

His other homer this series was a mammoth shot in the opening game, but he went hitless over seven at-bats in Game 2.

So has gone Harper's career.

Ever since he was called up early in the 2012 season, the kid has displayed flashes of brilliance amid patches of inconsistency. However, in one of the biggest games of his life on Monday afternoon, Harper stepped up.

This is good news for the Nationals and bad news for the Giants. As one of the most dynamic players in the league, Harper has the potential to alter Game 4 with both his bat and his glove. His .643 slugging percentage during this series has blown his teammates' .211 clip out of the water.

Speaking of water, San Francisco will be hoping none of Harper's hits on Tuesday night end up in McCovey Cove.

All statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference and ESPN.com unless otherwise linked/noted.

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