The San Francisco Giants staved off elimination for at least one more night Sunday, defeating the Cardinals 6-1 on the back of a career pitching performance from Ryan Vogelsong. The 35-year-old right-hander -- whose amazing comeback story has been well-documented -- struck out a career-high nine batters and allowed just four hits in seven dominant innings of work in Game 6.

Marco Scutaro and Pablo Sandoval also continued their hot-hitting ways, driving in three runs, but for Grant Brisbee of McCovey Chronicles, Game 6 was all about Ryan Vogelsong's shutdown pitching performance:

Ryan Vogelsong, you magnificent creature, what have you done?

I'm not ashamed to admit that I was cycling through the post-game angles when Ryan Vogelsong was struggling against the Reds in Game 3 of the NLDS. Four of the first five runners reached base. The Giants were going to get swept. It looked like the end-of-season rebound from Vogelsong didn't carry into the playoffs. I went full Eeyore. It was a fun season, I supposed. Kind of. Oh, well. And someday we're all going to die, you know.

Vogelsong since that first inning: 18 innings, 13 runners, two runs, three team wins.

It was natural to feel happy for Vogelsong after he found his sea legs against the Reds. It was natural to be thrilled for him after he pitched one of his best games of his life in Game 2 against the Cards...

Everything Vogelsong was doing in Game 2, he was doing just as well in Game 6. Better, actually. He set a career high in strikeouts, and remember that he's been around long enough to have been teammates with Mark Gardner and Bobby Estalella. Over eight years and 92 career starts, he probably pitched the best game of his major-league career. In an elimination game. To force a Game 7.

The Giants need just one more victory Monday night in Game 7 to cap an historic comeback and earn a shot at their second World Series title in three years. Ace right-hander Matt Cain will take the hill for the Giants in Game 7, taking on Kyle Lohse of the Cardinals.

The game will begin at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.