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San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Sergio Romo celebrates after the Giants defeated the Cincinnati Reds 6-4 in Game 5 of the National League division baseball series, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Cincinnati. The Giants won the final three games, all in C Al Behrman, Associated Press
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Members of the St. Louis Cardinals celebrate after Game 5 of the National League division baseball series against the Washington Nationals on Saturday, Oct 13, 2012, in Washington. St. Louis won 9-7. Nick Wass, Associated Press
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Members of the St. Louis Cardinals pour beer on relief pitcher Jason Motte's head after Game 5 of the National League division baseball series against the Washington Nationals on Saturday, Oct 13, 2012, in Washington. St. Louis won 9-7. Alex Brandon, Associated Press
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** CAPTION ADDITION -- ADDS PLAYERS' NAMES ** St. Louis Cardinals pitchers Marc Rzepczynski, left, and Joe Kelly, right, pour beer on teammate Edward Mujica's head as they celebrate in the locker room after Game 5 of the National League division baseball Alex Brandon, Associated Press
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San Francisco Giants', from left, Gregor Blanco, Hunter Pence, Brian Wilson, and Angel Pagan celebrate after they defeated the Cincinnati Reds 6-4 in Game 5 of the National League division baseball series, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Cincinnati. The Gian David Kohl, Associated Press
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San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Sergio Romo, center, celebrates with teammate after the Giants defeated the Cincinnati Reds 6-4 in Game 5 of the National League division baseball series, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Cincinnati. The Giants won the fina Michael Keating, Associated Press
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St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny throws during batting practice before Game 5 of the Cardinals' National League division baseball series against the Washington Nationals on Friday, Oct. 12, 2012, in Washington. Pablo Martinez Monsivais, Associated Press
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Cardinals' Skip Schumaker (left) and manager Mike Matheny (center) congratulate Carlos Beltran (foreground right) after Beltran and Adron Chambers both scored on a single by Daniel Descalso to tie the game in the ninth inning during Game 5 of the National Chris Lee, Post Dispatch, Associated Press
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San Francisco Giants' Pablo Sandoval (48) sprays Nicole Vogelsong, wife of Giants pitcher Ryan Vogelsong, in the locker room after the Giants defeated the Cincinnati Reds 6-4 in Game 5 of the National League division baseball series, Thursday, Oct. 11, 20 David Kohl, Associated Press
By Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO — St. Louis manager Mike Matheny will watch the game again, once things slow down, so he can truly appreciate just what his Cardinals pulled off in Washington to return to the NL championship series.

San Francisco skipper Bruce Bochy doesn't need another look to know how impressive the reigning World Series champions' ninth-inning comeback was. The Cardinals erased a six-run deficit and rallied to win 9-7 in the nation's capital on Friday night.

Bochy's team had its own remarkable rally: Three road wins at Cincinnati to advance after dropping the first two games of the division series at home to the Reds.

The last two World Series winners sure are showing their championship mettle in mid-October.

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They face off in Game 1 of the NLCS on Sunday night at San Francisco's AT&T Park.

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