Mike Matheny opted to use Michael Wacha in the bottom of the ninth inning of a tie game with the St. Louis Cardinals facing elimination on Thursday night.

He left closer Trevor Rosenthal in the bullpen. The San Francisco Giants won and advanced to the World Series on a three-run, walk-off home run by Travis Ishikawa.

"We can't bring him in, in a tie-game situation," Matheny said of Rosenthal. "We're on the road."

The Cardinals had to hold the Giants scoreless to keep their season alive and advance to extra innings.