SAN FRANCISCO - Down two games to none the cards are certainly stacked against the Washington Nationals. http://www.atleticomadridpro.com/Kids-Antonio-Adan-Jersey/ . If they need some motivation, though, all they have to do is look across at the opposing dugout. Washington tries to stave off elimination on Monday, as the National League Division Series shifts to San Francisco for Game 3 at AT&T Park. History is not on the Nationals side. Since the current divisional format began in 1995 there have been 46 teams who have gone ahead 2-0 in a Division Series and only five have lost the series. However, the last team to do it was the 2012 Giants, who, of course, went on to win the World Series. Yeah, it can be done, Washington manager Matt Williams said Sunday. It can certainly be done. You have to start with the first one. It may be a tall order, though, against a Giants team that has won an NL- record 10 straight postseason games and will be throwing their ace, Madison Bumgarner, in front of what should be a raucous crowd. Bumgarner has already left his mark on this postseason, throwing a four-hit shutout to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates in the wild card game. If there was no Clayton Kershaw we may very well be talking about an NL Cy Young Award for Bumgarner, who set career-high marks in wins (18) and strikeouts (219) this season and pitched to a 2.98 ERA. We are confident with Bum on the mound on Monday, said Giants first baseman Brandon Belt. Definitely not taking it for granted. We have seen teams come back down from 0-2 and win the series. We are going to go in there and try to play our best baseball. If we dont, they will take advantage of it. While Bumgarner was one of the best road pitchers in the league this season, he was quite ordinary at home, going 7-6 with a 5.03 ERA in 15 starts. In seven starts versus the Nationals, hes pitched to a 2.60 ERA. This will be Bumgarners ninth career postseason appearance. He is 4-2 with a 3.02 ERA. As boring as it sounds, youve got to treat it like any other game, he said. For me, its fun and exciting to go out there and get amped up and pumped up for the game. But for me, and a lot of people, when you do that, you dont play as good of baseball as you should. So its important to push all the nerves and anxiety and excitement aside and just play good, fundamentally sound baseball. Washington, meanwhile, will be throwing a postseason stalwart of its own in Doug Fister, who actually matched up against Bumgarner in the 2012 World Series as a member of the Detroit Tigers. Fister is no stranger to October baseball, as Mondays start will be his 17th postseason appearance. A surprise injury replacement during his postseason debut in 2011, Fister has gone 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA in 15 October games, all with the Tigers. Its definitely a benefit with having some experience, Fister said. But it just comes down to executing, and that is a big thing. These guys have played well for a long time and they are on quite a roll. But at the same time, we have been backed into a corner before. Weve been through a lot of ups and downs, and I think thats something thats definitely going to help us here where were down 0-2. Fister missed the first month of the season with a lat strain, but eventually enjoyed the best statistical season of his career, going 16-5 with a 2.20 ERA over his final 24 starts. The righty also walked a total of just 24 batters in those games. We dont have a choice now, Williams said. It is a must-win (game) for us. Then we must win Game 4 and hopefully get it back to (Washington). That is all we can do at this point. San Francisco moved to the brink of its third NLCS appearance in five years with a thrilling 18-inning win on Saturday. Pablo Sandovals RBI double tied the game with two outs in the ninth inning, and Belts solo homer in the 18th gave the never-say-die Giants a 2-1 victory and spoiled what was an outstanding outing from the Nats Jordan Zimmermann. Belts leadoff blast off Tanner Roark (0-1) produced the deciding run in the longest game by time in postseason history. The real hero of the game may have been Giants reliever Yusmeiro Petit, who held the Nationals to a single hit over six scoreless innings in a splendid performance out of the bullpen I was trying to get as much as I could out of him, Bochy said. Just six days removed from throwing the first no-no in Nationals history, Zimmermann yielded just three hits and retired 20 straight hitters before being lifted after walking Joe Panik with two outs in the fateful ninth. Drew Storen promptly allowed a single to Buster Posey, then Sandoval followed with a double to score Panik with the tying run. Posey actually raced home on the play only to be thrown at home on a play that was confirmed via replay review. The Nats had their way with the Giants in the regular season, taking five out of seven games. TSNs Game Notes: * Madison Bumgarner has pitched 16 straight scoreless innings in the postseason, 4th-most in franchise history. In his last start a€“ a win over the Pirates in the NL Wild Card game, Bumgarner became just the third pitcher in postseason history to throw a shutout with double-digit strikeouts in a winner-take-all game (Justin Verlander, Sandy Koufax). * The Giants are heading home with their ace on the mound, but hes been a much better pitcher on the road this season. Madison Bumgarner This Season a€“ Including Postseason Home Road W-L 7-6 12-4 ERA 4.03 2.07 WHIP 1.24 0.95 Opp BA .260 .218 K/BB 4.2 6.4 * The Nationals are trying to stay alive to win a postseason series for the first time since the 1981 Montreal Expos beat the Phillies in the NLDS. * Washingtons Doug Fister finished the regular season strong, going 4-0 with a 1.26 ERA over his last 4 starts. http://www.atleticomadridpro.com/Kids-Jose-Gimenez-Jersey/ . 22 because of a bruised foot and have added forward Sean Collins to the roster on emergency recall from Springfield of the AHL. http://www.atleticomadridpro.com/Kids-Lucas-Hernandez-Jersey/ . Louis Cardinals continued their offensive tear with a 9-5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the opener of a four-game series. http://www.atleticomadridpro.com/Kids-Vitolo-Jersey/ . -- Byron Scott is taking over the Los Angeles Lakers with the vocal support of his fellow Showtime greats. CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- As "Sweet Caroline" pumped through the stadium and playoff-starved Panthers fans dressed all in black celebrated a big victory, Tom Brady ran after an official in search of an explanation. Thrilling game, bizarre ending. Brady and the Patriots were miffed after a penalty flag that was thrown in the end zone on the final play was suddenly picked up and waved off Monday night, giving the Carolina Panthers a 24-20 victory over New England for their sixth straight win. Cam Newton led the Panthers 83 yards on 13 plays and threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Ted Ginn Jr. with 59 seconds left to give the Panthers the lead. The Patriots had a chance at an improbable comeback when Brady moved New England to the Carolina 18 with 3 seconds left and fired into the end zone as time expired. Rookie safety Robert Lester intercepted the pass, but an official at the back of the end zone threw a flag for pass interference on linebacker Luke Kuechly, who had both arms wrapped around tight end Rob Gronkowski. The officials then gathered, however, and referee Clete Blakeman announced there was no foul on the play and the game was over. "There was no explanation given to me. Officials ran off the field. I didnt see anything," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "There was a flag thrown and then the game was over." Blakeman said after the game that back judge Terrence Miles saw there was contact and Kuechly was not playing the ball, and that initially led Miles to call defensive pass interference. But Blakeman said the officials met and decided the ball was "underthrown" and it came down to a matter of "uncatchability." A pass-interference call would have put the ball on the 1-yard line and given the Patriots one more shot at a game-winning touchdown with no time on the clock. "You never like to end the game like that on a call but Im pleased that our officiating crew got together and communicated and discussed it and ultimately we believe we got it right," Blakeman said. An angry Brady ran down two officials to argue the call as they walked off the field, but later said he didnt get a good look at the play. "I dont make the calls or the rules," Brady said. "I wish it wouldnt have come down to that. I think there were plenty of plays we couldve made. But it did, and theyre going to make the call or theyre not going to make the call. But we can play better than that." Brady conceded he was cautious on the throw. "(Gronkowski) was kind of weaving in and out of there. I didnt really want to throw it over his head and out of bounds, so I was a little indecisive," he said. "It wasnt a great throw. No excuses. Should have been a better throw." Kuechly, who had a critical pass-interference call in a Week 2 loss to Buffalo, was a little nervous when he saw the flag on the ground. "I was like, Oh, jeez. I dont know what this is going to be," Kuechly said. "My back was to Brady. I was just playing his eyes, playing his hands, waiting for his eyes to get big and his hands to go up and I was going to try to break it down. I didnt really see where the ball went. I think Robert had a hand on it or something. There were guys around that ball and thats what helps you out." Given a reprieve, the Panthers (7-3) celebrated. Brady finished 29 of 40 for 296 yards and one touchdown. Newton completed 19 of 28 passes for 209 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran seven times for 62 yards in what will go down as one of his best games a pro. After the game, Carolina coach Ron Rivera called it a "gutsy effort." Newtons winning touchdown drive in the wwaning minutes of a game was the type of leadership performance the Panthers have been waiting for from the third-year pro. http://www.atleticomadridpro.com/Kids-Juanfran-Jersey/. . Newton said "people want to keep making it about me and the plays that I made, but its not a one-man show, by far." It just seemed that way. He was 5 of 8 for 57 yards and ran twice for 18 yards on the go-ahead drive. Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith, who had 62 yards on four catches, said Newton came of age Monday night. "Its just fantastic, just watching Cam grow, watching him lead this team, watching him go 85 yards," Smith said. "You hear all about statistics, about other guys having game-winning drives. Now Cam has his game-winning drive against a big team, against a worthy opponent. Just watching the young man grow -- I just saw that young, 24-year old Cam Newton just chipping away and just a little hint of greatness is starting to shine through a little bit." Carolina moved within a game of first-place New Orleans in the NFC South. The win came eight days after a 10-9 victory over reigning NFC champion San Francisco. The Panthers entered the fourth quarter with a 17-10 lead, but Stevan Ridley made up for an earlier fumble with a 1-yard touchdown run and the Patriots (7-3) took a 20-17 lead with 6:32 left when Stephen Gostkowski slipped a 26-yard field goal just inside the left upright. Carolina came right back down the field and Newton hit the speedy Ginn on a hitch route. Ginn escaped Kyle Arrington along the left sideline and outraced Logan Ryan to the left pylon for his third touchdown of the season. Newton gave Carolina a 17-10 lead in the third quarter on an 81-yard touchdown drive that took more than 8 minutes off the clock and featured a scramble in which the third-year quarterback avoided four tacklers and turned a potential 20-yard sack into a 14-yard gain and a first down. Newton completed all seven passes on the drive for 77 yards, finding Greg Olsen at the right pylon with 2:10 left to put the Panthers back in front. "Cam did the things he needed to do to put us in position to win the football game," Rivera said. "It has a lot to do with his maturity that we have talked about." Carolina entered the night as the NFLs No. 1 defence and didnt disappoint early, sacking Brady twice and holding Gronkowski to one catch for 14 yards in the opening half. The Panthers hadnt given up a touchdown in eight straight quarters before Gronkowskis short TD catch tied the score at 10 on the first drive of the second half. Newton got Carolina the early lead by zipping a third-down throw to Brandon LaFell near the goal line with 2:44 left in the first quarter, capping a 90-yard drive that took more than 5 minutes off the clock. The drive included a 42-yard catch by Smith against cornerback Aqib Talib, who drew a personal foul penalty when he refused to let go of Smiths right foot after the receivers second catch, setting off a brief scuffle. Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson left early in the third quarter with a right knee injury but returned on New Englands final drive. NOTES: The Panthers have outscored their opponents 45-8 in the first quarter. ... The Panthers held a moment of silence before the game for former team President Mike McCormack, who died last week. ... Brady fell to 13-5 on Monday night. ... Patriots tight end Michael Hoomanawanui injured his knee in the first half and didnt return. ... The Panthers got only 41 yards rushing on 16 carries from their three running backs. ... Shane Vereen had 65 yards on eight receptions in his first game since returning from a broken left wrist in the season opener. Cheap Nuggets Jerseys Cheap Timberwolves Jerseys Cheap Thunder Jerseys Cheap Blazers Jerseys Cheap Jazz Jerseys Cheap Warriors Jerseys Cheap Clippers Jerseys Cheap Lakers Jerseys Cheap Suns Jerseys Cheap Kings Jerseys Cheap Mavericks Jerseys Cheap Rockets Jerseys Cheap Grizzlies Jerseys Cheap Pelicans Jerseys Cheap Spurs Jerseys Cheap Thunder Jerseys Cheap 76ers Jerseys Cheap Knicks Jerseys Cheap Raptors Jerseys Cheap Pistons Jerseys Cheap Team USA Basketball Jerseys ' ' '