Game Summary
Who said the Giants couldn't hit?
In their two games against the powerful Texas Rangers, the Giants held them to just seven runs, including a 9-0 shut-out at AT&T Park Thursday night.
As for the Giants?
All the Giants did was score 20 runs in two games, 13 of them with two outs.
Most of Thursday's game was a far cry from last night's offense barrage, with 18 runs being scored by both teams on Wednesday. Fortunately for the Giants, they were on the winning end of that game, by a score of 11-7, but that game did show that the Rangers will not go down quietly in this series.
They didn't show that same fight on Thursday.
That was because Matt Cain was fantastic in his seven and two-thirds inning of shut-out work. Cain, who has yet to give up an earned run in the post-season, yielded just four hits and two walks, while striking out just two.
The Rangers' starter, C.J. Wilson, was a formidable opponent; however, he would take the loss after giving up a long fifth-inning home run to Edgar Renteria. The score was just 1-0 at the time, but that was all the Giants needed. Wilson would leave the game in the seventh with a blister on his hand.
Darren Oliver was summoned in to relieve Wilson, who left with Cody Ross on first with nobody out. Aubrey Huff was the first hitter against Oliver, and he grounded out to first, but advanced Ross to second. With two outs, Juan Uribe came up and blooped a single into center field, scoring Ross and extending the Giants' lead to 2-0. At the time, the run felt huge for the Giants.
Then came the oddest inning you will ever see in a World Series.
The bottom of the eighth inning started pedestrian for the Giants, with both Andres Torres and Freddy Sanchez striking out against reliever Darren O' Day. Buster Posey came up and singled to center field. Little did anyone know that this innocent two-out single would start something big.
O' Day would go on to walk the next two hitters. Then stepped Aubrey Huff to the plate with the bases loaded. Huff would go on to coax a walk, forcing in a run and making the score 3-0.
The Rangers summoned Derek Holland to face Juan Uribe. Holland would take the count to 3-2, but Uribe resisted swinging at a low pitch, taking ball 4. This would force in a run, increasing the Giants' lead to 4-0. Edgar Renteria came to the plate next and added to the Rangers' misery, singling to right field. Two runs scored, and the Giants were up 6-0. Aaron Rowand would add a two-run triple in the inning, followed by an Andres Torres RBI single. Before it was all said and done, the Giants led 9-0. All seven runs in the eighth inning scored with two outs.
The Giants had a close call in the top of the fifth inning. Ian Kinsler led off the inning with a deep drive to center. The ball appeared on television to be over the fence for a home run, but it actually hit the top of the wall for a double. Cain would pitch around the lead-off double, stranding Kinsler at second base.
Cain would also run into trouble in the top of the sixth inning, while the score was still 1-0. With runners at second and third with just one out, Cain induced a pop-out from Nelson Cruz and then a fly-out to right from Ian Kinsler.
The Giants now have a commanding 2-0 lead in the World Series. No matter what happens in Texas, the Giants are assured to bringing the series back to AT&T Park. It would be nice if the Giants could become world champions at home, but they surely won't mind if their first world championship since 1954 gets done in Texas.
My Thoughts
I have never seen the ball bounce a team's way as many times as I've seen it happen for the Giants. Tonight, the Giants were 1 inch away from falling behind 1-0 in the fifth inning, but Ian Kinsler's deep drive hit off the top of the wall. Although the Rangers had a great scoring opportunity with a runner at second and nobody out, Cain would not allow the run to score, a huge momentum shift, in favor of the Giants, in the game. I thought Brooks Conrad's defensive lapses were lucky, but a ball that's off the top of the wall and an inch away from a home run might be a little more fortunate considering how rare that is.
Matt Cain is simply amazing. It's his first time ever pitching in the playoffs, and he has yet to give up a run. Tonight, he only had two strikeouts, but effectively pitched to contact, especially against this Rangers powerhouse offense. Not to mention that he encountered the gauntlet in the sixth inning, and got through it no problem. He really bore down and threw a nasty cut-fastball on the inside corner to Nelson Cruz, who hit a harmless pop-out to Aubrey Huff at first. Runners were at second and third with one out at the time. Ian Kinsler came up next with two outs, and Cain got away with a location mistake, but Kinsler just popped it to Cody Ross for the out.
The way the Giants have had a new hero every day is simply amazing. Who would of thought that Edgar Renteria would be getting big RBIs in the World Series for the Giants? In fact, he would get three in Thursday's game. Bruce Bochy only inserted Renteria into the lineup because Pablo Sandoval was struggling mightily at the plate, and he sure is responding. Last night, Uribe was the hero. I wouldn't be surprised if the hero tomorrow was somebody else, or even two people.
This and That
Regular season or post-season, the Rangers remain winless at AT&T Park. The Giants scored 13 two-out runs out of 20 in the World Series. Both Elvis Andrus and Nelson Cruz failed to get hits, ending their 12-game post-season hitting streaks. The Giants have never lost a World Series while being up 2-0. The Rangers have not given up two runs on bases loaded walks in an inning since Rich Harden did it on April 7 against Toronto. The World Series continues Saturday at 3:57 p.m. Jonathan Sanchez will square off against Colby Lewis.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
The Giants Win the Pennant! The Giants Win the Pennant!
"The Giants Win the Pennant! The Giants Win the Pennant!," uttered Giants' Hall of Fame broadcaster Russ Hodges in 1951 after Bobby Thompson hit the "shot 'heard round the world" that won the pennant for them. Those famous words in Giants history could be said again in 2010, as they apply to the club's most recent squad.
As the underdogs in the National League Championship Series, the Giants silenced all the naysayers. Day after day, they were picked to lose each game to the Phillies. Nobody seemed to give the San Francisco Giants a fighting chance, except for maybe F.P. Santangelo and Marty Lurie.
However, the Giants certainly did have a fighting chance. After Brian Wilson threw a nasty 3-2 slider to strike out Ryan Howard looking with runners at first and second with two out, Joe Buck, FOX's play-by-play broadcaster, summed it up best when he said, "The Giants win the pennant," a la Ross Hodges 59 years ago
It started out very grim for the Giants. They called on their starter Jonathan Sanchez to try and shut-down the Phillies' offense, but it just did not happen. In the very first inning, Sanchez issued a one out walk to Placido Polanco, who would later advance to second on a wild pitch. The next batter, Chase Utley, doubled to right, scoring Polanco from second and giving the Phillies a 1-0 lead. Ryan Howard would then single to left. Utley would eventually come in to score on a Jayson Werth sacrifice fly, extending the lead to 2-0 in favor of the Phillies.
Then the weirdness happened. In the top of the third inning, the Giants got a lead-off single from Jonathan Sanchez, the pitcher. It was a lead-off triple from Sanchez in game 162 that propelled the Giants to their 3-0 NL West clinching victory against the Padres. History would repeat itself. The next batter, Andres Torres, drilled a deep fly ball to center that center-fielder Shane Victorino appeared to make a basket-catch on, but it was dropped by him at the wall. Because Sanchez was confused on the play, the runners could only advance one base. Freddy Sanchez would then come up and lay down a sacrifice bunt, advancing the runners to second and third. This brought up Aubry Huff, who singled up-the-middle. However, only one run would score as Andres Torres was gunned down at the plate by Shane Victorino. Huff advanced to second since the ball was thrown home. Nonetheless, the Giants were on the board, but trailing 2-1. Then up came Buster Posey. Posey did not hit the ball hard, but his swinging bunt down the third base line proved effective. Polanco tried to make the throw to gun down Posey at first base and end the inning, but he ended up hitting Posey, and the ball ricocheted passed first-basement Ryan Howard. Huff would score from second on the error, knotting the score up a two.
Then, the Giants' bullpen took over. In their seven innings of shut-out work, they were sensational, yielding just 5 hits and striking out 6.
The bullpen was summoned right after Jonathan Sanchez hit Chase Utley in the back in the third inning. As Utley walked to first base, he flipped the ball back to the pitcher's mound. Sanchez took offense and had some words for Utley, who roared back at Sanchez. Benches then cleared. After the altercation, Sanchez was removed for Jeremy Affeldt, who Bochy decided was coming in regardless of the heated exchange. The tone was then set for the rest of the night.
Affeldt inherited a jam with runners at first and second with nobody out after Utley was hit. He responded to the trouble by striking out Ryan Howard, inducing a fly-out from Jayson Werth, and coaxing a ground-out from Shane Victorino. The rest of the bullpen followed Affeldt's example.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Madison Bumgarner, a starting pitcher, relieved Affeldt. The Phillies loaded the bases in the inning, but Bumgarner induced a two-out comebacker from Victorino that ended the threat. The Giants would pull more Houdini acts later on.
With the score still tied at 2-2 in the top of the eighth inning, Juan Uribe came up against Ryan Madson with two outs and nobody on. Madson, who dominated the Giants' 4-5-6 hitters in Game 5, appeared to be cruising through the eighth, but on the first pitch to Uribe, Uribe took an outside pitch at the belt and flipped it out over the right field wall. The Giants, before a stunned 46,062 at Citizen's Bank Park, had a 3-2 lead and were only 6 outs away from their fourth National League Pennant in San Francisco Giants history.
Of course, the road to victory had to be torturous.
Tim Lincecum relieved Javier Lopez in the bottom of the eighth inning. Although he struck out Jayson Werth to begin the inning, he gave up consecutive singles to Shane Victorino and Raul Ibanez. Bochy saw enough and summoned Brian Wilson for a five out save. With runners at first and second with 1 out, Carlos Ruiz lined a smash to first baseman Aubrey Huff, who caught it and threw to second to complete the double play. The runner at second, Shane Victorino, ran on contact, a costly move for his team.
The torture continued into the bottom of the ninth with the Giants three outs away from the pennant. Wilson retired pinch-hitter Ross Gload on a ground-out to second, ONE out, but walked the next hitter, Jimmy Rollins. The next batter, Placido Polanco, grounded out to third and reached on a fielder's choice. TWO out. Up came Chase Utley as the possible tying run. To add to the torture, he walked.
Now the match-up. Brian Wilson vs. Ryan Howard. The count swelled to 3-2, a prerequisite for a Giants final out. Howard had already singled and doubled earlier in the game. Another double would certainly win the game for the Phillies with the runners taking off on contact, but on that night, it was a faithful 3-2 backdoor breaking ball from Wilson that froze Howard. THREE out. As the ball was called strike three by the home plate umpire, the Giants poured out of their dugout to begin their celebration. The Phillies faithful booed the Giants, as they celebrated on Philadelphia turf, but those jeers were music to the Giants' ears. The Giants win the pennant.
My thoughts coming soon....
As the underdogs in the National League Championship Series, the Giants silenced all the naysayers. Day after day, they were picked to lose each game to the Phillies. Nobody seemed to give the San Francisco Giants a fighting chance, except for maybe F.P. Santangelo and Marty Lurie.
However, the Giants certainly did have a fighting chance. After Brian Wilson threw a nasty 3-2 slider to strike out Ryan Howard looking with runners at first and second with two out, Joe Buck, FOX's play-by-play broadcaster, summed it up best when he said, "The Giants win the pennant," a la Ross Hodges 59 years ago
It started out very grim for the Giants. They called on their starter Jonathan Sanchez to try and shut-down the Phillies' offense, but it just did not happen. In the very first inning, Sanchez issued a one out walk to Placido Polanco, who would later advance to second on a wild pitch. The next batter, Chase Utley, doubled to right, scoring Polanco from second and giving the Phillies a 1-0 lead. Ryan Howard would then single to left. Utley would eventually come in to score on a Jayson Werth sacrifice fly, extending the lead to 2-0 in favor of the Phillies.
Then the weirdness happened. In the top of the third inning, the Giants got a lead-off single from Jonathan Sanchez, the pitcher. It was a lead-off triple from Sanchez in game 162 that propelled the Giants to their 3-0 NL West clinching victory against the Padres. History would repeat itself. The next batter, Andres Torres, drilled a deep fly ball to center that center-fielder Shane Victorino appeared to make a basket-catch on, but it was dropped by him at the wall. Because Sanchez was confused on the play, the runners could only advance one base. Freddy Sanchez would then come up and lay down a sacrifice bunt, advancing the runners to second and third. This brought up Aubry Huff, who singled up-the-middle. However, only one run would score as Andres Torres was gunned down at the plate by Shane Victorino. Huff advanced to second since the ball was thrown home. Nonetheless, the Giants were on the board, but trailing 2-1. Then up came Buster Posey. Posey did not hit the ball hard, but his swinging bunt down the third base line proved effective. Polanco tried to make the throw to gun down Posey at first base and end the inning, but he ended up hitting Posey, and the ball ricocheted passed first-basement Ryan Howard. Huff would score from second on the error, knotting the score up a two.
Then, the Giants' bullpen took over. In their seven innings of shut-out work, they were sensational, yielding just 5 hits and striking out 6.
The bullpen was summoned right after Jonathan Sanchez hit Chase Utley in the back in the third inning. As Utley walked to first base, he flipped the ball back to the pitcher's mound. Sanchez took offense and had some words for Utley, who roared back at Sanchez. Benches then cleared. After the altercation, Sanchez was removed for Jeremy Affeldt, who Bochy decided was coming in regardless of the heated exchange. The tone was then set for the rest of the night.
Affeldt inherited a jam with runners at first and second with nobody out after Utley was hit. He responded to the trouble by striking out Ryan Howard, inducing a fly-out from Jayson Werth, and coaxing a ground-out from Shane Victorino. The rest of the bullpen followed Affeldt's example.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Madison Bumgarner, a starting pitcher, relieved Affeldt. The Phillies loaded the bases in the inning, but Bumgarner induced a two-out comebacker from Victorino that ended the threat. The Giants would pull more Houdini acts later on.
With the score still tied at 2-2 in the top of the eighth inning, Juan Uribe came up against Ryan Madson with two outs and nobody on. Madson, who dominated the Giants' 4-5-6 hitters in Game 5, appeared to be cruising through the eighth, but on the first pitch to Uribe, Uribe took an outside pitch at the belt and flipped it out over the right field wall. The Giants, before a stunned 46,062 at Citizen's Bank Park, had a 3-2 lead and were only 6 outs away from their fourth National League Pennant in San Francisco Giants history.
Of course, the road to victory had to be torturous.
Tim Lincecum relieved Javier Lopez in the bottom of the eighth inning. Although he struck out Jayson Werth to begin the inning, he gave up consecutive singles to Shane Victorino and Raul Ibanez. Bochy saw enough and summoned Brian Wilson for a five out save. With runners at first and second with 1 out, Carlos Ruiz lined a smash to first baseman Aubrey Huff, who caught it and threw to second to complete the double play. The runner at second, Shane Victorino, ran on contact, a costly move for his team.
The torture continued into the bottom of the ninth with the Giants three outs away from the pennant. Wilson retired pinch-hitter Ross Gload on a ground-out to second, ONE out, but walked the next hitter, Jimmy Rollins. The next batter, Placido Polanco, grounded out to third and reached on a fielder's choice. TWO out. Up came Chase Utley as the possible tying run. To add to the torture, he walked.
Now the match-up. Brian Wilson vs. Ryan Howard. The count swelled to 3-2, a prerequisite for a Giants final out. Howard had already singled and doubled earlier in the game. Another double would certainly win the game for the Phillies with the runners taking off on contact, but on that night, it was a faithful 3-2 backdoor breaking ball from Wilson that froze Howard. THREE out. As the ball was called strike three by the home plate umpire, the Giants poured out of their dugout to begin their celebration. The Phillies faithful booed the Giants, as they celebrated on Philadelphia turf, but those jeers were music to the Giants' ears. The Giants win the pennant.
My thoughts coming soon....
Friday, October 22, 2010
Giants Fall In Crucial Game, Cannot Clinch At Home
BEFORE YOU READ THE ENTRY: I was very wrong on my blog in this entry. I acted like I had no faith, and I unfairly buried the Giants.This is why baseball is so great. A right bounce or a few inches can silence any critic no matter how good or bad a team is, as what happened to the Giants here. I do not hate the Giants. In fact, I love the team, have a lot of passion for them, and would want nothing more than to work for them someday. I am glad I ended up being wrong and cannot wait for the World Series. These comments were made because I got too caught up in the torture as most fans have. Read on, laugh at me if you like, but know this. I will support the Giants for life.
On Thursday night, the Giants were confident that they could win their 4th pennant after beating the National Championship Phillies three games out of the first four in the National League Championship Series. Not so fast.
I am going to do something different with my blog and make a rather bold statement here. I hate to rain on anyone's parade, but the San Francisco Giants' season will be over come Sunday night. It will not be over because they defeated the Phillies in one of these two games in the East Coast, but it will be over because the Giants will get shelled by the Phillies in each of the two games and lose the series after being up 3-1.
Why such a bold statement you ask? It's simply because they don't have what it takes. To win in Philly, you have to be able to lift the ball in the air with at least a little authority in that ban box. The Giants have struggled to do this in the post-season. Time and time again, they have rolled over on off-speed pitches outside of the zone, and the Philadelphia pitchers have been smart to pick up on this. Yesterday, Roy Halladay, even not at his best, realized this tendency and stuck with his off-speed pitches away, and the Giants just were off-balance and rolled over on them. The Phillies, on the other hand, are more than capable of elevating Jonathan Sanchez and Matt Cain, which is a reason why the score will be lopsided early in favor of the Phillies.
Another reason why the Giants are done is because they cannot play defense. I have never seen a Giants' third basemen struggle so much to make a throw from first to third. Last year, Pablo Sandoval was almost like a wizard at the position, but this year he has made too many bonehead plays. For example, in the third inning of yesterday's game, you got to be on the bag to take Posey's throw on the bunt (with runners at first and second with 0 outs). Although the ball was foul and the umpire blew the call, you got to be ready. Instead, Sandoval was not, saw the ball as foul, and relaxed as he took the throw off the bag and could not get his foot there on time. Fortunately, he was able to record the out at first because Halladay did not run, but that was a free double play that cannot be botched. If you give extra outs to the Phillies, you will pay. As a result, the Phillies scored three runs in that inning that did the Giants in. Imagine how big that was in a 4-2 loss.
Also, Jonathan Sanchez has none chance in Philly. You got a pitcher who his hard to hit yes, but he walks too many people. He led the league in walks. If you want to beat the Phillies, you cannot give them gifts because they know how to pounce on them (see the above paragraph). If you walk them, someone is going to be ready to hit a three-run jack and before you know it, the Giants are behind. The walks, combined with the Giants' errors, did Sanchez in on Saturday night, and I see the same thing happening this Saturday in Philadelphia.
Finally, the Giants will lose this weekend because they do not have the momentum. If the Giants won the first game, dropped the second one, and won the third one at home, then the Giants would have the momentum to get something started in Philly. Now, all they have to think about in their off day is the crushing loss at home that should have been won with better defense. The Phillies, on the other hand, have every reason to be fired up, and I have no doubt they will "swing hard in case you hit it," as F.P. Santangelo would say. Momentum is everything in baseball, and unfortunately, the wrong team has it.
I am not saying it is impossible to win in Philly, but I am saying it will be very unlikely. In order for the Giants to win the pennant, they have to get lucky. Their rolled over grounders must find holes, and the Phillies need to make mistakes on the field, which is not going to happen with that vacuum cleaner defense. Lastly, someone other than Cody Ross will have to get the job done. Solo homers can only get you so far, but I don't think a team with a horrible on-base percentage will have too many 3-run jacks. I am sorry Giants fans as much as I would like to see them win, it is simply not going to happen. Maybe with a better offense and a more athletic defense (and throw in some speed), the Giants might be able to bring the pennant home next year, but this year, be ready to hit the bars after Sunday's crushing defeat.
One more thing, check out my friend's blog. I promised I would link it, and it has some good insight. http://lasportsminute.blogspot.com/2010/
Oh, for all you people who want to believe, Listen to this song... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyVdbfyvwso . Unfortunately, I don't have the "faith and hope" he has. Not happening this year at least, but next year can be a different story.
On Thursday night, the Giants were confident that they could win their 4th pennant after beating the National Championship Phillies three games out of the first four in the National League Championship Series. Not so fast.
I am going to do something different with my blog and make a rather bold statement here. I hate to rain on anyone's parade, but the San Francisco Giants' season will be over come Sunday night. It will not be over because they defeated the Phillies in one of these two games in the East Coast, but it will be over because the Giants will get shelled by the Phillies in each of the two games and lose the series after being up 3-1.
Why such a bold statement you ask? It's simply because they don't have what it takes. To win in Philly, you have to be able to lift the ball in the air with at least a little authority in that ban box. The Giants have struggled to do this in the post-season. Time and time again, they have rolled over on off-speed pitches outside of the zone, and the Philadelphia pitchers have been smart to pick up on this. Yesterday, Roy Halladay, even not at his best, realized this tendency and stuck with his off-speed pitches away, and the Giants just were off-balance and rolled over on them. The Phillies, on the other hand, are more than capable of elevating Jonathan Sanchez and Matt Cain, which is a reason why the score will be lopsided early in favor of the Phillies.
Another reason why the Giants are done is because they cannot play defense. I have never seen a Giants' third basemen struggle so much to make a throw from first to third. Last year, Pablo Sandoval was almost like a wizard at the position, but this year he has made too many bonehead plays. For example, in the third inning of yesterday's game, you got to be on the bag to take Posey's throw on the bunt (with runners at first and second with 0 outs). Although the ball was foul and the umpire blew the call, you got to be ready. Instead, Sandoval was not, saw the ball as foul, and relaxed as he took the throw off the bag and could not get his foot there on time. Fortunately, he was able to record the out at first because Halladay did not run, but that was a free double play that cannot be botched. If you give extra outs to the Phillies, you will pay. As a result, the Phillies scored three runs in that inning that did the Giants in. Imagine how big that was in a 4-2 loss.
Also, Jonathan Sanchez has none chance in Philly. You got a pitcher who his hard to hit yes, but he walks too many people. He led the league in walks. If you want to beat the Phillies, you cannot give them gifts because they know how to pounce on them (see the above paragraph). If you walk them, someone is going to be ready to hit a three-run jack and before you know it, the Giants are behind. The walks, combined with the Giants' errors, did Sanchez in on Saturday night, and I see the same thing happening this Saturday in Philadelphia.
Finally, the Giants will lose this weekend because they do not have the momentum. If the Giants won the first game, dropped the second one, and won the third one at home, then the Giants would have the momentum to get something started in Philly. Now, all they have to think about in their off day is the crushing loss at home that should have been won with better defense. The Phillies, on the other hand, have every reason to be fired up, and I have no doubt they will "swing hard in case you hit it," as F.P. Santangelo would say. Momentum is everything in baseball, and unfortunately, the wrong team has it.
I am not saying it is impossible to win in Philly, but I am saying it will be very unlikely. In order for the Giants to win the pennant, they have to get lucky. Their rolled over grounders must find holes, and the Phillies need to make mistakes on the field, which is not going to happen with that vacuum cleaner defense. Lastly, someone other than Cody Ross will have to get the job done. Solo homers can only get you so far, but I don't think a team with a horrible on-base percentage will have too many 3-run jacks. I am sorry Giants fans as much as I would like to see them win, it is simply not going to happen. Maybe with a better offense and a more athletic defense (and throw in some speed), the Giants might be able to bring the pennant home next year, but this year, be ready to hit the bars after Sunday's crushing defeat.
One more thing, check out my friend's blog. I promised I would link it, and it has some good insight. http://lasportsminute.blogspot.com/2010/
Oh, for all you people who want to believe, Listen to this song... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyVdbfyvwso . Unfortunately, I don't have the "faith and hope" he has. Not happening this year at least, but next year can be a different story.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Giants Turn Tortue Into Thriller, Edge Phillies 6-5
Game Summary
"Phillies in six" was the bold prediction of sports analysts and fans, as the Phillies took on the San Francisco Giants in Game 4 of the NLCS at AT&T Park.
Well, one thing is for sure. The Phillies will not win this championship series in six, as they lost to the Giants and now trail them 3-1 in the series.
Unlikely heroes emerged in the bottom of the ninth inning. With the Giants tied at 5 with the Phillies, Juan Uribe, who was out of the lineup because of a sore wrist, knocked in the winning run with the only sacrifice fly of the post-season for the Giants. Uribe only came in because of a double switch. It should also be noted that Buster Posey, the hitter before Uribe, overcame a heated battle with Roy Oswalt, who came in relief in the 9th, by lining an opposite field single down the right field line that advanced the runner at first, Huff, to third.
The Giants got on the board first in the very first inning of the Phillies' Joe Blanton. With Freddy Sanchez at third, Buster Posey singled him in, giving the Giants a 1-0 lead.
The Giants would tack on another run in the bottom of the third inning. With Aubrey Huff on first with two outs, Buster Posey lined a double into left-center field, extending the Giants lead to 2-0.
The Phillies, however, roared back in the top of the fifth inning off Giants' rookie lefty Madison Bumgarner. With runners at second and third with 1 out, Shane Victorino singled up the middle. It looked like this would tie the game, but Aaron Rowand made a good one hop throw to Buster Posey, who picked up a tough hop and tagged out Carlos Ruiz trying to score. The Phillies would still score the tying and lead run later in the inning, as Placido Polanco hit a two out two RBI double, giving the Phillies their first lead of the series at AT&T Park at 3-2. The Phillies would tack on one more run in the inning on a wild pitch by reliever Santiago Casilla, who also gave up the double to Polanco.
It was then the Giants' turn to show their resiliency. In the bottom of the 5th inning, the Giants cut into that Philadelphia lead on an RBI single by Aubrey Huff, who had a 2 for 4 night. The score was then 4-3.
In the top of the 6th inning, the Giants turned the game around. After Pat Burrell led of the inning with a walk, Cody Ross doubled down the left field line. With runners at first and second with nobody out, an unlikely hero, Pablo Sandoval, roasted a high fastball into the left-center field gap, putting the Giants back on top at 5-4. Those RBIS were the first in Sandoval's post-season career.
In this back-and-forth game, the Phillies showed why they were defending National League Champions two years in row. In the top of the eighth, after Ryan Howard doubled off reliever Javier Lopez, Jayson Werth came up against Sergio Romo and lined a doubled down the left field line that was just fair. The game was tied at 5. Romo, however, would retire the next three batters in succession.
No team would score until the bottom of the ninth. As Aubrey Huff made his trek to home plate on the Uribe sacrifice fly, the Giants poured out of the dugout. Their celebration was so great that Roy Oswalt, the losing pitcher, even struggled to get back to the dugout because the celebration was in his way.
In his first post-season game, Madison Bumgarner pitched decently. In his four and two-thirds innings of work, Bumgarner yielded three runs on 6 hits, while walking 1 and striking out 6. Joe Blanton, the Phillies' starter, lasted the same amount of innings as Bumgarner and gave up the same amount of runs.
The Giants now have a 3-1 lead in the series. A win tomorrow, and the Giants have a chance to win a world championship for the first time in their history since coming to San Francisco.
My Thoughts
Coming up later on tonight...
"Phillies in six" was the bold prediction of sports analysts and fans, as the Phillies took on the San Francisco Giants in Game 4 of the NLCS at AT&T Park.
Well, one thing is for sure. The Phillies will not win this championship series in six, as they lost to the Giants and now trail them 3-1 in the series.
Unlikely heroes emerged in the bottom of the ninth inning. With the Giants tied at 5 with the Phillies, Juan Uribe, who was out of the lineup because of a sore wrist, knocked in the winning run with the only sacrifice fly of the post-season for the Giants. Uribe only came in because of a double switch. It should also be noted that Buster Posey, the hitter before Uribe, overcame a heated battle with Roy Oswalt, who came in relief in the 9th, by lining an opposite field single down the right field line that advanced the runner at first, Huff, to third.
The Giants got on the board first in the very first inning of the Phillies' Joe Blanton. With Freddy Sanchez at third, Buster Posey singled him in, giving the Giants a 1-0 lead.
The Giants would tack on another run in the bottom of the third inning. With Aubrey Huff on first with two outs, Buster Posey lined a double into left-center field, extending the Giants lead to 2-0.
The Phillies, however, roared back in the top of the fifth inning off Giants' rookie lefty Madison Bumgarner. With runners at second and third with 1 out, Shane Victorino singled up the middle. It looked like this would tie the game, but Aaron Rowand made a good one hop throw to Buster Posey, who picked up a tough hop and tagged out Carlos Ruiz trying to score. The Phillies would still score the tying and lead run later in the inning, as Placido Polanco hit a two out two RBI double, giving the Phillies their first lead of the series at AT&T Park at 3-2. The Phillies would tack on one more run in the inning on a wild pitch by reliever Santiago Casilla, who also gave up the double to Polanco.
It was then the Giants' turn to show their resiliency. In the bottom of the 5th inning, the Giants cut into that Philadelphia lead on an RBI single by Aubrey Huff, who had a 2 for 4 night. The score was then 4-3.
In the top of the 6th inning, the Giants turned the game around. After Pat Burrell led of the inning with a walk, Cody Ross doubled down the left field line. With runners at first and second with nobody out, an unlikely hero, Pablo Sandoval, roasted a high fastball into the left-center field gap, putting the Giants back on top at 5-4. Those RBIS were the first in Sandoval's post-season career.
In this back-and-forth game, the Phillies showed why they were defending National League Champions two years in row. In the top of the eighth, after Ryan Howard doubled off reliever Javier Lopez, Jayson Werth came up against Sergio Romo and lined a doubled down the left field line that was just fair. The game was tied at 5. Romo, however, would retire the next three batters in succession.
No team would score until the bottom of the ninth. As Aubrey Huff made his trek to home plate on the Uribe sacrifice fly, the Giants poured out of the dugout. Their celebration was so great that Roy Oswalt, the losing pitcher, even struggled to get back to the dugout because the celebration was in his way.
In his first post-season game, Madison Bumgarner pitched decently. In his four and two-thirds innings of work, Bumgarner yielded three runs on 6 hits, while walking 1 and striking out 6. Joe Blanton, the Phillies' starter, lasted the same amount of innings as Bumgarner and gave up the same amount of runs.
The Giants now have a 3-1 lead in the series. A win tomorrow, and the Giants have a chance to win a world championship for the first time in their history since coming to San Francisco.
My Thoughts
Coming up later on tonight...
Giants Shut Out Phillies 3-0, Take 2-1 Series Lead
Game Summary
I apologize for the lack of posts this week. I have been really busy, but I got some free time now.
Because Game 4 will start in about 2 hours, I will make this post a little different. I'll do a little less game summary and a little more preview for tonight's game.
Even though the Giants took Game 1 in impressive fashion, losing Game 2 still kept them in their underdog status. However, winning last night 3-0 behind Matt Cain put at least a little doubt in the experts' minds.
Plain and simple, the Giants were not supposed to win yesterday. Matt Cain, although having a solid post-season, was winless against the Phillies in his career. Phillies' lefty Cole Hammels was supposed to shut down the Giants, as he did to the Reds in the NLDS. After all, the Giants' offense is worse than the Reds'. The left-handed power hitters (Utley, Howard, and Ibanez) were supposed to crush the ball into McCovey Cove and beat the Giants convincingly, but it wasn't how she drew it up.
It was the Giants who stormed ahead early and didn't look back. The scoring for the Giants in Game 3 began when Cody Ross came up in the bottom of the fourth inning with runners at first and second with 2 out. Ross took a low and outside pitch from Hammels and lined it into right field for a base hit, giving the Giants a 1-0 lead. This hit was Ross' fourth of the NLCS. The next batter, Aubrey Huff, singled into right field, increasing the Giants' lead to 2-0.
The Giants would take on another run in the fifth when Freddy Sanchez hit an RBI "single"to second baseman Chase Utley, who kicked the ball around on a tough hop. The ball trickled into center, scoring Aaron Rowand, but the official scorer called the ball hit. The Giants had a 3-0 lead, which would be plenty.
Matt Cain pitched seven shutout innings, striking out 5. Brian Wilson came on in the ninth and earned his second save of the NLCS.
The Giants can really silence the analysts with a win tonight, and their history this year indicates that they could very well do that.
My Thoughts
Today's "my thoughts" will focus on the game tonight.
I really like the Giants' chances tonight. Lefty Madison Bumgarner may be a rookie, but he's got the poise of Greg Maddux. With that left-handed heavy lineup and the dimensions of AT&T Park, I think the Giants could hold the Phillies down here. Those homers that would graze over the wall in Philadelphia will get caught in right-center in San Francisco (it's going to be fun watching the Phillies' sluggers slam their helmets down when their "home-run" balls get tracked down by Torres near the 421 marker).
On the offensive side for the Giants, Joe Blanton is someone they should hit. His ERA of 4.82 is nothing to get worried about, and he is as ordinary a pitcher as you will face in the post-season. I am shocked the Phillies aren't coming back with Halladay here. This is a huge game for both clubs. The winner here might very well win the series. The game is that big. That said, the Giants are going to have to hit Blanton because Hallady and Oswalt are coming.
Now it's tiime to get ready for baseball! No more talk, no more analysis. This is a huge game, so Giants fans just sit back and relax. It will be a bumpy ride.
My predicted score: Giants win 5-2
I apologize for the lack of posts this week. I have been really busy, but I got some free time now.
Because Game 4 will start in about 2 hours, I will make this post a little different. I'll do a little less game summary and a little more preview for tonight's game.
Even though the Giants took Game 1 in impressive fashion, losing Game 2 still kept them in their underdog status. However, winning last night 3-0 behind Matt Cain put at least a little doubt in the experts' minds.
Plain and simple, the Giants were not supposed to win yesterday. Matt Cain, although having a solid post-season, was winless against the Phillies in his career. Phillies' lefty Cole Hammels was supposed to shut down the Giants, as he did to the Reds in the NLDS. After all, the Giants' offense is worse than the Reds'. The left-handed power hitters (Utley, Howard, and Ibanez) were supposed to crush the ball into McCovey Cove and beat the Giants convincingly, but it wasn't how she drew it up.
It was the Giants who stormed ahead early and didn't look back. The scoring for the Giants in Game 3 began when Cody Ross came up in the bottom of the fourth inning with runners at first and second with 2 out. Ross took a low and outside pitch from Hammels and lined it into right field for a base hit, giving the Giants a 1-0 lead. This hit was Ross' fourth of the NLCS. The next batter, Aubrey Huff, singled into right field, increasing the Giants' lead to 2-0.
The Giants would take on another run in the fifth when Freddy Sanchez hit an RBI "single"to second baseman Chase Utley, who kicked the ball around on a tough hop. The ball trickled into center, scoring Aaron Rowand, but the official scorer called the ball hit. The Giants had a 3-0 lead, which would be plenty.
Matt Cain pitched seven shutout innings, striking out 5. Brian Wilson came on in the ninth and earned his second save of the NLCS.
The Giants can really silence the analysts with a win tonight, and their history this year indicates that they could very well do that.
My Thoughts
Today's "my thoughts" will focus on the game tonight.
I really like the Giants' chances tonight. Lefty Madison Bumgarner may be a rookie, but he's got the poise of Greg Maddux. With that left-handed heavy lineup and the dimensions of AT&T Park, I think the Giants could hold the Phillies down here. Those homers that would graze over the wall in Philadelphia will get caught in right-center in San Francisco (it's going to be fun watching the Phillies' sluggers slam their helmets down when their "home-run" balls get tracked down by Torres near the 421 marker).
On the offensive side for the Giants, Joe Blanton is someone they should hit. His ERA of 4.82 is nothing to get worried about, and he is as ordinary a pitcher as you will face in the post-season. I am shocked the Phillies aren't coming back with Halladay here. This is a huge game for both clubs. The winner here might very well win the series. The game is that big. That said, the Giants are going to have to hit Blanton because Hallady and Oswalt are coming.
Now it's tiime to get ready for baseball! No more talk, no more analysis. This is a huge game, so Giants fans just sit back and relax. It will be a bumpy ride.
My predicted score: Giants win 5-2
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Giants Silence Experts, Take Game 1
Game Summary
Even the baseball experts didn't see this coming.
All across America, the analysts were sure that the Phillies would dominate the Giants at Citizen's Bank Park. It was all too predictable. Phillies would go up 2-0, Giants would win a couple to make it 2-2 or 3-2, and the Phillies would take the series when it got back to Philly. Not so fast, this is no ordinary Giants team.
The Phillies saw first hand that even them as defending National League Champions cannot look ahead. If they want to move on to the World Series for the third straight year, they got a force to reckon with first.
The Giants made a statement early against Phillies ace Roy Halladay, who threw a no-hitter in the NLDS. In the third inning, Cody Ross silenced any thoughts of a no-hitter, as he belted a solo home-run to left, giving the Giants a 1-0.
The Phillies would respond in the very next inning against Tim Lincecum. Carlos Ruiz, in the bottom of the third, exchanged solo-home runs with Ross, an opposite field shot that tied the game at 1.
The Giants would forge ahead once again in the top of the fifth inning. With 1 out, Ross came up once again and smacked another solo home run to left, his second of the game. Just like that, the Giants had the lead back at 2-1.
In the top of the sixth, the Giants would pad their lead, although it would be a short-lived cushion. With 2 outs, Posey singled to right center. That brought up Pat Burrell, who crushed a deep fly ball to left-center. The ball appeared to be ticketed for the bleachers, but it went for a RBI double, as Raul Ibanez could not make the catch in left field. The Giants were up 3-1 and would make it 4-1 on a Juan Uribe RBI single.
Then came the Phillies.
In the bottom of the sixth, Jayson Werth hit an opposite-field homer to right, cutting the Giants' lead to 4-3. Then, the Giants' bullpen went to work after Lincecum retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh.
In the bottom of the eighth, Javier Lopez induced a ground ball to second off the bat of Chase Utley. He would then strike out Ryan Howard. With two outs, Wilson was summoned in for the four out save, which he nailed beautifully, striking out 4 of 5 hitters he faced.
Tim Lincecum outdueled Roy Halladay to pick up the win. In his seven innings of work, he allowed 3 runs on 6 hits, while striking out 8 and walking 3.
Like so many times this year, the Giants silenced the naysayers, and they will be happy to do it again in Game 2 of the NLCS.
My Thoughts
I have to give Brian Sabean credit for what he did. His acquisitions this year, unlike past years, have actually panned out. Cody Ross, who has proven to be just a ball player, hit two homers today. The funny thing is that Sabean only claimed Ross off waivers to block the Padres from getting him. Luck would have it, he would be on the post-season roster hitting big home runs in the playoffs. Javier Lopez, another mid-season acquisition, got out two tough lefties in the eighth and has not allowed a hit to a lefty yet.
Tim Lincecum also showed why he was an ace tonight. Even though he did not have his best stuff and had a terrible strike zone to work with, he still found a way to get it done. He did not have fastball command, nor his slider, but he still used that changeup of his to get key outs when he needed them. His two mistakes, two high fastballs, both left the yard, but at AT&T Park, those fly-balls would have either been caught or off the wall. More impressively, when the score became 4-3, Lincecum was at his best, especially in the seventh where he somehow regained that fastball command in combaniation with his lethal changeup.
This win was huge for the Giants. Not only did it silence the crowd, and I mean you can hear a pin-drop after the Phillies lost, but it also made a statement for the Giants. Nationally and locally in Philly, the Giants were written off as the weaker team. It was already a foregone conclusion that the Giants were going to lose the series and both games in Philadelphia. Not so fast, as the Giants grabbed the early momentum and are in a good position to win the series, perhaps even at home at AT&T Park. The Giants basically eliminated the Phillies' home-field advantage with the win, as the Giants are up 1-0 with 3 left in San Francisco and 3 in Philadelphia.
This and That
The Giants are now 4-1 in the post-season and all 5 games were decided by one run. Tim Lincecum improved to 2-0 in his post-season career. Cody Ross hit his third home run of the post-season. Carlos Ruiz has reached safely in 24 straight play-off games. The Phillies are 23-10 in the post-season since 2008. The Giants beat Halladay twice this year and remain the only team in baseball to beat all of the Phillies' big 3 (Oswalt, Halladay, and Hammels). Tomorrow, Jonathan Sanchez will take on Roy Oswalt, who the Giants have beat 3 times this year.
Even the baseball experts didn't see this coming.
All across America, the analysts were sure that the Phillies would dominate the Giants at Citizen's Bank Park. It was all too predictable. Phillies would go up 2-0, Giants would win a couple to make it 2-2 or 3-2, and the Phillies would take the series when it got back to Philly. Not so fast, this is no ordinary Giants team.
The Phillies saw first hand that even them as defending National League Champions cannot look ahead. If they want to move on to the World Series for the third straight year, they got a force to reckon with first.
The Giants made a statement early against Phillies ace Roy Halladay, who threw a no-hitter in the NLDS. In the third inning, Cody Ross silenced any thoughts of a no-hitter, as he belted a solo home-run to left, giving the Giants a 1-0.
The Phillies would respond in the very next inning against Tim Lincecum. Carlos Ruiz, in the bottom of the third, exchanged solo-home runs with Ross, an opposite field shot that tied the game at 1.
The Giants would forge ahead once again in the top of the fifth inning. With 1 out, Ross came up once again and smacked another solo home run to left, his second of the game. Just like that, the Giants had the lead back at 2-1.
In the top of the sixth, the Giants would pad their lead, although it would be a short-lived cushion. With 2 outs, Posey singled to right center. That brought up Pat Burrell, who crushed a deep fly ball to left-center. The ball appeared to be ticketed for the bleachers, but it went for a RBI double, as Raul Ibanez could not make the catch in left field. The Giants were up 3-1 and would make it 4-1 on a Juan Uribe RBI single.
Then came the Phillies.
In the bottom of the sixth, Jayson Werth hit an opposite-field homer to right, cutting the Giants' lead to 4-3. Then, the Giants' bullpen went to work after Lincecum retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh.
In the bottom of the eighth, Javier Lopez induced a ground ball to second off the bat of Chase Utley. He would then strike out Ryan Howard. With two outs, Wilson was summoned in for the four out save, which he nailed beautifully, striking out 4 of 5 hitters he faced.
Tim Lincecum outdueled Roy Halladay to pick up the win. In his seven innings of work, he allowed 3 runs on 6 hits, while striking out 8 and walking 3.
Like so many times this year, the Giants silenced the naysayers, and they will be happy to do it again in Game 2 of the NLCS.
My Thoughts
I have to give Brian Sabean credit for what he did. His acquisitions this year, unlike past years, have actually panned out. Cody Ross, who has proven to be just a ball player, hit two homers today. The funny thing is that Sabean only claimed Ross off waivers to block the Padres from getting him. Luck would have it, he would be on the post-season roster hitting big home runs in the playoffs. Javier Lopez, another mid-season acquisition, got out two tough lefties in the eighth and has not allowed a hit to a lefty yet.
Tim Lincecum also showed why he was an ace tonight. Even though he did not have his best stuff and had a terrible strike zone to work with, he still found a way to get it done. He did not have fastball command, nor his slider, but he still used that changeup of his to get key outs when he needed them. His two mistakes, two high fastballs, both left the yard, but at AT&T Park, those fly-balls would have either been caught or off the wall. More impressively, when the score became 4-3, Lincecum was at his best, especially in the seventh where he somehow regained that fastball command in combaniation with his lethal changeup.
This win was huge for the Giants. Not only did it silence the crowd, and I mean you can hear a pin-drop after the Phillies lost, but it also made a statement for the Giants. Nationally and locally in Philly, the Giants were written off as the weaker team. It was already a foregone conclusion that the Giants were going to lose the series and both games in Philadelphia. Not so fast, as the Giants grabbed the early momentum and are in a good position to win the series, perhaps even at home at AT&T Park. The Giants basically eliminated the Phillies' home-field advantage with the win, as the Giants are up 1-0 with 3 left in San Francisco and 3 in Philadelphia.
This and That
The Giants are now 4-1 in the post-season and all 5 games were decided by one run. Tim Lincecum improved to 2-0 in his post-season career. Cody Ross hit his third home run of the post-season. Carlos Ruiz has reached safely in 24 straight play-off games. The Phillies are 23-10 in the post-season since 2008. The Giants beat Halladay twice this year and remain the only team in baseball to beat all of the Phillies' big 3 (Oswalt, Halladay, and Hammels). Tomorrow, Jonathan Sanchez will take on Roy Oswalt, who the Giants have beat 3 times this year.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Giants Eliminate Braves In Comeback Fashion, Advance to NLCS
Game Summary
The journey began in February. While the Giants still had more questions than answers, little did they know they would be advancing to the NLCS a few long and torturous months later.
When the Giants broke camp in April, their opening day lineup included the likes of Mark DeRosa, Aaron Rowand, Pablo Sandoval, Edgar Renteria, and Bengie Molina. Now, in the NLDS, their lineups consists of heroes like Cody Ross.
Claimed by the Giants off waivers, Ross was awarded to San Francisco after the Marlins gave him up. The Giants merely put the claim on Ross in hopes to block San Diego from grabbing him, but he ended up with the team. The Giants will be glad that he practically fell on their lap.
While Braves' starter Derek Lowe was cruising through the first 5 innings, he looked unhittable. In fact, he had a no-hitter through 5 innings, but that changed when Cody Ross stepped up in the 6th. With his team down 1-0, Ross crushed an inside pitch over the wall in left field, tying the game at 1. However, as Giants fans know, the rest of the game wouldn't be that easy.
In the bottom-half of the inning, Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner threw a first pitch outside slider that Braves catcher Brian McCann smoked over the right field fence, giving the Braves the lead once again at 2-1.
As has been characteristic of the Giants all season long, they did not quit. With 1 out and Derek Lowe still pitching in the 7th, Aubrey Huff walked. Then things got weird. Buster Posey hit an infield dribbler to third that turned out to be an infield hit, advancing Huff to Second. Then came up Pat Burrell. Bobby Cox went out to get Lowe, but he convinced Cox to let him pitch to Burrell. It did not work out, as Burrell walked to load the bases. This brought up Juan Uribe. Uribe, who has been a loss at the plate all series long, was able to muscle a ground ball in the hole at short. Alex Gonzales was able to field it on the backhand, but threw high to Omar Infante at second. Burrell was safe, and the Giants tied the game at 2. Aaron Rowand would pinch hit for Fontenot, but would strike out.
Then came up that guy again, Cody Ross. With the bases loaded and 2 out, the Giants were searching for that elusive clutch 2-out hit. Ross delivered, as he grounded a single through the hole at short, giving the Giants a 3-2 lead. Burrell would be thrown out at home trying to score.
Although Ross' efforts were heroic, 21-year-old rookie left-hander Madison Bumgarner came up big for the Giants. In his post-season debut, he pitched 6 strong innings and gave up just 2 runs, while striking out five. He earned the win, becoming the second-youngest pitcher in baseball history to win a play-off series clinching game.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, more difficulty came. After the Giants' closer, Brian Wilson, retired last night's goat, Brooks Conrad, on a pop-out, he walked the next 2 hitters. However, Wilson, with a heart of ice, struck out Omar Infante. Now, 1 out came between the Giants wrapping up the series or bringing it to San Francisco. The Braves' last hope was Melky Cabrera. Wilson coaxed a week ground ball to 3rd base from Cabrera where Juan Uribe gobbled it up and threw high to first, but Ishikawa somehow stayed on the bag to record the final out of the NLDS. Wilson earned his biggest save of his career. With the NLDS series win, the Giants will advance to the NLCS and face the Phillies Saturday and battle them for the National League Pennant.
My Thoughts
The journey began in February. While the Giants still had more questions than answers, little did they know they would be advancing to the NLCS a few long and torturous months later.
When the Giants broke camp in April, their opening day lineup included the likes of Mark DeRosa, Aaron Rowand, Pablo Sandoval, Edgar Renteria, and Bengie Molina. Now, in the NLDS, their lineups consists of heroes like Cody Ross.
Claimed by the Giants off waivers, Ross was awarded to San Francisco after the Marlins gave him up. The Giants merely put the claim on Ross in hopes to block San Diego from grabbing him, but he ended up with the team. The Giants will be glad that he practically fell on their lap.
While Braves' starter Derek Lowe was cruising through the first 5 innings, he looked unhittable. In fact, he had a no-hitter through 5 innings, but that changed when Cody Ross stepped up in the 6th. With his team down 1-0, Ross crushed an inside pitch over the wall in left field, tying the game at 1. However, as Giants fans know, the rest of the game wouldn't be that easy.
In the bottom-half of the inning, Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner threw a first pitch outside slider that Braves catcher Brian McCann smoked over the right field fence, giving the Braves the lead once again at 2-1.
As has been characteristic of the Giants all season long, they did not quit. With 1 out and Derek Lowe still pitching in the 7th, Aubrey Huff walked. Then things got weird. Buster Posey hit an infield dribbler to third that turned out to be an infield hit, advancing Huff to Second. Then came up Pat Burrell. Bobby Cox went out to get Lowe, but he convinced Cox to let him pitch to Burrell. It did not work out, as Burrell walked to load the bases. This brought up Juan Uribe. Uribe, who has been a loss at the plate all series long, was able to muscle a ground ball in the hole at short. Alex Gonzales was able to field it on the backhand, but threw high to Omar Infante at second. Burrell was safe, and the Giants tied the game at 2. Aaron Rowand would pinch hit for Fontenot, but would strike out.
Then came up that guy again, Cody Ross. With the bases loaded and 2 out, the Giants were searching for that elusive clutch 2-out hit. Ross delivered, as he grounded a single through the hole at short, giving the Giants a 3-2 lead. Burrell would be thrown out at home trying to score.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, more difficulty came. After the Giants' closer, Brian Wilson, retired last night's goat, Brooks Conrad, on a pop-out, he walked the next 2 hitters. However, Wilson, with a heart of ice, struck out Omar Infante. Now, 1 out came between the Giants wrapping up the series or bringing it to San Francisco. The Braves' last hope was Melky Cabrera. Wilson coaxed a week ground ball to 3rd base from Cabrera where Juan Uribe gobbledit up and threw high to first, but Ishikawa somehow stayed on the bag to record the final out of the NLDS.
My Thoughts
Stay tuned, they will come tomorrow.
The journey began in February. While the Giants still had more questions than answers, little did they know they would be advancing to the NLCS a few long and torturous months later.
When the Giants broke camp in April, their opening day lineup included the likes of Mark DeRosa, Aaron Rowand, Pablo Sandoval, Edgar Renteria, and Bengie Molina. Now, in the NLDS, their lineups consists of heroes like Cody Ross.
Claimed by the Giants off waivers, Ross was awarded to San Francisco after the Marlins gave him up. The Giants merely put the claim on Ross in hopes to block San Diego from grabbing him, but he ended up with the team. The Giants will be glad that he practically fell on their lap.
While Braves' starter Derek Lowe was cruising through the first 5 innings, he looked unhittable. In fact, he had a no-hitter through 5 innings, but that changed when Cody Ross stepped up in the 6th. With his team down 1-0, Ross crushed an inside pitch over the wall in left field, tying the game at 1. However, as Giants fans know, the rest of the game wouldn't be that easy.
In the bottom-half of the inning, Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner threw a first pitch outside slider that Braves catcher Brian McCann smoked over the right field fence, giving the Braves the lead once again at 2-1.
As has been characteristic of the Giants all season long, they did not quit. With 1 out and Derek Lowe still pitching in the 7th, Aubrey Huff walked. Then things got weird. Buster Posey hit an infield dribbler to third that turned out to be an infield hit, advancing Huff to Second. Then came up Pat Burrell. Bobby Cox went out to get Lowe, but he convinced Cox to let him pitch to Burrell. It did not work out, as Burrell walked to load the bases. This brought up Juan Uribe. Uribe, who has been a loss at the plate all series long, was able to muscle a ground ball in the hole at short. Alex Gonzales was able to field it on the backhand, but threw high to Omar Infante at second. Burrell was safe, and the Giants tied the game at 2. Aaron Rowand would pinch hit for Fontenot, but would strike out.
Then came up that guy again, Cody Ross. With the bases loaded and 2 out, the Giants were searching for that elusive clutch 2-out hit. Ross delivered, as he grounded a single through the hole at short, giving the Giants a 3-2 lead. Burrell would be thrown out at home trying to score.
Although Ross' efforts were heroic, 21-year-old rookie left-hander Madison Bumgarner came up big for the Giants. In his post-season debut, he pitched 6 strong innings and gave up just 2 runs, while striking out five. He earned the win, becoming the second-youngest pitcher in baseball history to win a play-off series clinching game.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, more difficulty came. After the Giants' closer, Brian Wilson, retired last night's goat, Brooks Conrad, on a pop-out, he walked the next 2 hitters. However, Wilson, with a heart of ice, struck out Omar Infante. Now, 1 out came between the Giants wrapping up the series or bringing it to San Francisco. The Braves' last hope was Melky Cabrera. Wilson coaxed a week ground ball to 3rd base from Cabrera where Juan Uribe gobbled it up and threw high to first, but Ishikawa somehow stayed on the bag to record the final out of the NLDS. Wilson earned his biggest save of his career. With the NLDS series win, the Giants will advance to the NLCS and face the Phillies Saturday and battle them for the National League Pennant.
My Thoughts
The journey began in February. While the Giants still had more questions than answers, little did they know they would be advancing to the NLCS a few long and torturous months later.
When the Giants broke camp in April, their opening day lineup included the likes of Mark DeRosa, Aaron Rowand, Pablo Sandoval, Edgar Renteria, and Bengie Molina. Now, in the NLDS, their lineups consists of heroes like Cody Ross.
Claimed by the Giants off waivers, Ross was awarded to San Francisco after the Marlins gave him up. The Giants merely put the claim on Ross in hopes to block San Diego from grabbing him, but he ended up with the team. The Giants will be glad that he practically fell on their lap.
While Braves' starter Derek Lowe was cruising through the first 5 innings, he looked unhittable. In fact, he had a no-hitter through 5 innings, but that changed when Cody Ross stepped up in the 6th. With his team down 1-0, Ross crushed an inside pitch over the wall in left field, tying the game at 1. However, as Giants fans know, the rest of the game wouldn't be that easy.
In the bottom-half of the inning, Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner threw a first pitch outside slider that Braves catcher Brian McCann smoked over the right field fence, giving the Braves the lead once again at 2-1.
As has been characteristic of the Giants all season long, they did not quit. With 1 out and Derek Lowe still pitching in the 7th, Aubrey Huff walked. Then things got weird. Buster Posey hit an infield dribbler to third that turned out to be an infield hit, advancing Huff to Second. Then came up Pat Burrell. Bobby Cox went out to get Lowe, but he convinced Cox to let him pitch to Burrell. It did not work out, as Burrell walked to load the bases. This brought up Juan Uribe. Uribe, who has been a loss at the plate all series long, was able to muscle a ground ball in the hole at short. Alex Gonzales was able to field it on the backhand, but threw high to Omar Infante at second. Burrell was safe, and the Giants tied the game at 2. Aaron Rowand would pinch hit for Fontenot, but would strike out.
Then came up that guy again, Cody Ross. With the bases loaded and 2 out, the Giants were searching for that elusive clutch 2-out hit. Ross delivered, as he grounded a single through the hole at short, giving the Giants a 3-2 lead. Burrell would be thrown out at home trying to score.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, more difficulty came. After the Giants' closer, Brian Wilson, retired last night's goat, Brooks Conrad, on a pop-out, he walked the next 2 hitters. However, Wilson, with a heart of ice, struck out Omar Infante. Now, 1 out came between the Giants wrapping up the series or bringing it to San Francisco. The Braves' last hope was Melky Cabrera. Wilson coaxed a week ground ball to 3rd base from Cabrera where Juan Uribe gobbledit up and threw high to first, but Ishikawa somehow stayed on the bag to record the final out of the NLDS.
My Thoughts
Stay tuned, they will come tomorrow.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Lincecum Shuts Out Braves 1-0 In Game 1
Game Summary
For the first time in his career, Tim Lincecum pitched in a play-off game. After watching tonight's game, you would think he was a post-season veteran like Andy Petite.
Lincecum (1-0) was masterful in his postseason complete game shutout. In his two-hitter, he struck out 14 batters and walked just one.
Giants nemesis Derek Lowe (0-1) went for the Braves. In his career, he has a 7-4 record with a 2.95 ERA against the Giants.
The Giants broke the scoreless tie off Lowe in the bottom of the fourth inning. Buster Posey led off the inning with a single. The next batter, Pat Burrell, struck out, but Posey was able to steal second base on the play. It looked like the tag was applied on Posey before he hit the base, but second base umpire Paul Emmel called Posey safe. Juan Uribe would go on to strike out next. With 2 outs, Braves manager Bobby Cox elected to intentionally walk Pablo Sandoval, who was baffled by Lowe an at-bat earlier. This brought up Cody Ross, who laced a single into left field, scoring Posey from second. The ball took a bad hop on Braves third baseman Omar Infante, who got to the ball, but it was still called a single. Nevertheless, the Giants took a 1-0 lead, the only run scored in the game.
In the ninth inning, Tim Lincecum emerged from the dugout. Faced with the task of going after the top of the order in the biggest game of his career, Lincecum delivered, retiring the side one-two-three. With his shutout, Lincecum became the only pitcher since Roger Clemens to strike out 14 or more and allow two hits or fewer in a postseason shutout. Clemens and Lincecum are the only two pitchers to do this.
My Thought
Lincecum was spectacular tonight, and I don't want to take anything away from him, but he got lucky a couple times tonight. There is no doubt he was up with his fastball tonight, but for some reason the Braves swung right through them. Why? Movement. His fastball had life on it, just getting off the sweet spots from the bats of the Braves' hitters or missing their bats. His fastball command was shaky at best, but that world class split-finger change-up was never better. Perfect example is Brian McCann's at-bat in the fourth inning. Lincecum threw a fastball at the belt, but the movement coaxed a fly-out to right field. When you mix and match your pitches like Lincecum did tonight, the mistakes are less likely to get hit as hard. Before our very eyes, Lincecum is becoming a pitcher and not a thrower.
This and That
The Giants won their first post-season game since 2003. Barry Zito, the Giants' highest paid player, was left off the playoff roster. Aubrey Huff ended his 1,479 game-streak of not playing in a playoff game, the third longest among active players. Tim Lincecum became the first pitcher since 1986 to make his postseason debut with a 1-0 shutout victory. The Giants' attendance was 43, 936 for Game 1 of the NLDS, their second highest at AT&T Park. The only bigger crowd was the 2007 All-Star Game.
For the first time in his career, Tim Lincecum pitched in a play-off game. After watching tonight's game, you would think he was a post-season veteran like Andy Petite.
Lincecum (1-0) was masterful in his postseason complete game shutout. In his two-hitter, he struck out 14 batters and walked just one.
Giants nemesis Derek Lowe (0-1) went for the Braves. In his career, he has a 7-4 record with a 2.95 ERA against the Giants.
The Giants broke the scoreless tie off Lowe in the bottom of the fourth inning. Buster Posey led off the inning with a single. The next batter, Pat Burrell, struck out, but Posey was able to steal second base on the play. It looked like the tag was applied on Posey before he hit the base, but second base umpire Paul Emmel called Posey safe. Juan Uribe would go on to strike out next. With 2 outs, Braves manager Bobby Cox elected to intentionally walk Pablo Sandoval, who was baffled by Lowe an at-bat earlier. This brought up Cody Ross, who laced a single into left field, scoring Posey from second. The ball took a bad hop on Braves third baseman Omar Infante, who got to the ball, but it was still called a single. Nevertheless, the Giants took a 1-0 lead, the only run scored in the game.
In the ninth inning, Tim Lincecum emerged from the dugout. Faced with the task of going after the top of the order in the biggest game of his career, Lincecum delivered, retiring the side one-two-three. With his shutout, Lincecum became the only pitcher since Roger Clemens to strike out 14 or more and allow two hits or fewer in a postseason shutout. Clemens and Lincecum are the only two pitchers to do this.
My Thought
Lincecum was spectacular tonight, and I don't want to take anything away from him, but he got lucky a couple times tonight. There is no doubt he was up with his fastball tonight, but for some reason the Braves swung right through them. Why? Movement. His fastball had life on it, just getting off the sweet spots from the bats of the Braves' hitters or missing their bats. His fastball command was shaky at best, but that world class split-finger change-up was never better. Perfect example is Brian McCann's at-bat in the fourth inning. Lincecum threw a fastball at the belt, but the movement coaxed a fly-out to right field. When you mix and match your pitches like Lincecum did tonight, the mistakes are less likely to get hit as hard. Before our very eyes, Lincecum is becoming a pitcher and not a thrower.
This and That
The Giants won their first post-season game since 2003. Barry Zito, the Giants' highest paid player, was left off the playoff roster. Aubrey Huff ended his 1,479 game-streak of not playing in a playoff game, the third longest among active players. Tim Lincecum became the first pitcher since 1986 to make his postseason debut with a 1-0 shutout victory. The Giants' attendance was 43, 936 for Game 1 of the NLDS, their second highest at AT&T Park. The only bigger crowd was the 2007 All-Star Game.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
They Did It! Giants Win NL West Title On Game 162
Game Summary
It was a long time coming. After 7 years of misery, the Giants and their fans were rewarded with a post-season birth.
Clinching the NL West title certainly was not easy for the Giants. With a 3 game lead and 3 to play with the Padres, the Giants did not play well the first 2 games, losing the first game 6-4 and the second 4-2. Going into Sunday's game, the Padres trimmed the Giants' lead to one game. If the Padres had won Sunday, they would have tied the Giants and forced a one-game playoff at Petco Park. However, for the Giants, the third time was the charm.
The Giants did something they could not do the first two games of the series. They were able to grab the early lead. In the bottom of the 3rd inning, Jonathan Sanchez smoked a 1-out triple in the right-center field gap. However, the Padres' ace, Mat Latos, struck out Andres Torres. With 2 outs and a runner at third, Freddy Sanchez stepped up to the plate and laced a single up-the-middle, giving the Giants a 1-0 lead. Aubrey Huff would come up next and hit a long RBI double in the left-center field gap, just past the diving attempt of center fielder Chris Denorfia. Just like that, the Giants were up 2-0.
This 2-run margin would be more than enough for the Giants' starting lefty Jonathan Sanchez (13-9). In 5 innings of shutout ball, Sanchez allowed just 3 hits. Although he walked 5, he also struck out 5 and escaped from all of his jams.
Twice this season, Mat Latos defeated Jonathan Sanchez 1-0. Today, however, it was the Giants' pitching staff that shut-out the Padres. Latos, in his 6 innings of work, gave a valiant effort, but could not keep the Padres' playoff hopes alive. Although he had a quality start (6 innings pitched and 3 runs given up), he took his 10th loss of the year.
The Giants would add a big insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning courtesy of Buster Posey, who homered to left field. This gave the Giants a 3-0 lead, which felt like a 10-run cushion with the way things have been going for the Giants this series.
The Giants' bullpen did their job, as they have done all season. When the Padres would threaten, they would promptly shut them down. Most notable was the top of the 7th inning. With runners at first and second with 2 outs, up came the dangerous Miguel Tejada. He battled with the Giants' righty Ramon Ramirez. In the 9th pitch of the at-bat, Ramirez struck out Tejada with a nasty slider. Ramirez came into the game with a 0.68 ERA as a Giant.
Then came the ninth inning. As the fans waved their orange rally towels in anticipation of the division title, fans knew it would not be easy. Brian Wilson quickly quenched those fears, retiring the side in order. As Will Venable whiffed at a high fastball, Buster Posey raised his fist in the air, and soon after, the Giants came pouring out of the dugout to celebrate.
My Thoughts
After 7 years of waiting, Giants fans could finally celebrate. Do you know how tiring it is to hear Dodger fans getting on your case when the Giants miss the playoffs? Well this year, the Dodgers will be the ones going home, and the Giants will be the one sweating it out in the playoffs. Had the Giants choked and lost 5 straight to eliminate themselves from the playoffs, I can only imagine the harassment from the Dodgers' faithful.
The Giants have had the worst umpiring this year. Today, Torres had a lead-off double taken away on a ball that clearly hit the left-field chalk line. It was called foul. The umpires did huddle up, but did not overrule the call. Tim McClellan, the home-plate umpire, was awful as well. His strike zone was incredibly small, and did not help the torture that Giants fans had to endure. He refused to call strikes on fastballs on the outside corner at the belt, but Sanchez and the Giants did a nice job overcoming that. To add to the torture, he had the slowest strike call I've ever seen. At least Phil Cuzzi's blown call at the plate against the Mets didn't end up costing the Giants in the end.
Brian Wilson just amazes me. It's the first time he's ever pitched in a game as big as this, and he nailed the save 1-2-3. Nothing phases him. This is exactly what you need in the play-offs and hopefully the World Series. He came out throwing strikes and was rewarded for it, with a save that gave the Giants the National League West title. Go celebrate Giants.
Finally, here are my Giants regular season awards.
It was a long time coming. After 7 years of misery, the Giants and their fans were rewarded with a post-season birth.
Clinching the NL West title certainly was not easy for the Giants. With a 3 game lead and 3 to play with the Padres, the Giants did not play well the first 2 games, losing the first game 6-4 and the second 4-2. Going into Sunday's game, the Padres trimmed the Giants' lead to one game. If the Padres had won Sunday, they would have tied the Giants and forced a one-game playoff at Petco Park. However, for the Giants, the third time was the charm.
The Giants did something they could not do the first two games of the series. They were able to grab the early lead. In the bottom of the 3rd inning, Jonathan Sanchez smoked a 1-out triple in the right-center field gap. However, the Padres' ace, Mat Latos, struck out Andres Torres. With 2 outs and a runner at third, Freddy Sanchez stepped up to the plate and laced a single up-the-middle, giving the Giants a 1-0 lead. Aubrey Huff would come up next and hit a long RBI double in the left-center field gap, just past the diving attempt of center fielder Chris Denorfia. Just like that, the Giants were up 2-0.
This 2-run margin would be more than enough for the Giants' starting lefty Jonathan Sanchez (13-9). In 5 innings of shutout ball, Sanchez allowed just 3 hits. Although he walked 5, he also struck out 5 and escaped from all of his jams.
Twice this season, Mat Latos defeated Jonathan Sanchez 1-0. Today, however, it was the Giants' pitching staff that shut-out the Padres. Latos, in his 6 innings of work, gave a valiant effort, but could not keep the Padres' playoff hopes alive. Although he had a quality start (6 innings pitched and 3 runs given up), he took his 10th loss of the year.
The Giants would add a big insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning courtesy of Buster Posey, who homered to left field. This gave the Giants a 3-0 lead, which felt like a 10-run cushion with the way things have been going for the Giants this series.
The Giants' bullpen did their job, as they have done all season. When the Padres would threaten, they would promptly shut them down. Most notable was the top of the 7th inning. With runners at first and second with 2 outs, up came the dangerous Miguel Tejada. He battled with the Giants' righty Ramon Ramirez. In the 9th pitch of the at-bat, Ramirez struck out Tejada with a nasty slider. Ramirez came into the game with a 0.68 ERA as a Giant.
Then came the ninth inning. As the fans waved their orange rally towels in anticipation of the division title, fans knew it would not be easy. Brian Wilson quickly quenched those fears, retiring the side in order. As Will Venable whiffed at a high fastball, Buster Posey raised his fist in the air, and soon after, the Giants came pouring out of the dugout to celebrate.
My Thoughts
After 7 years of waiting, Giants fans could finally celebrate. Do you know how tiring it is to hear Dodger fans getting on your case when the Giants miss the playoffs? Well this year, the Dodgers will be the ones going home, and the Giants will be the one sweating it out in the playoffs. Had the Giants choked and lost 5 straight to eliminate themselves from the playoffs, I can only imagine the harassment from the Dodgers' faithful.
The Giants have had the worst umpiring this year. Today, Torres had a lead-off double taken away on a ball that clearly hit the left-field chalk line. It was called foul. The umpires did huddle up, but did not overrule the call. Tim McClellan, the home-plate umpire, was awful as well. His strike zone was incredibly small, and did not help the torture that Giants fans had to endure. He refused to call strikes on fastballs on the outside corner at the belt, but Sanchez and the Giants did a nice job overcoming that. To add to the torture, he had the slowest strike call I've ever seen. At least Phil Cuzzi's blown call at the plate against the Mets didn't end up costing the Giants in the end.
Brian Wilson just amazes me. It's the first time he's ever pitched in a game as big as this, and he nailed the save 1-2-3. Nothing phases him. This is exactly what you need in the play-offs and hopefully the World Series. He came out throwing strikes and was rewarded for it, with a save that gave the Giants the National League West title. Go celebrate Giants.
Finally, here are my Giants regular season awards.
Rookie of the Club: Buster Posey
Cy Young = Brian Wilson
Gold Glove - Andres Torres
Reliever Of The Year - Sergio Romo
Silver Slugger = Aubrey Huff
This and That
The Giants finished the season 92-70, their first 90 win season since 2004. Brian Wilson tied Rod Beck's all-time Giants saves record with 48. The Padres have had 4 90-win seasons in their history, but this is the only time they haven't made the playoffs when winning 90 games. The Giants surpassed the 3 million mark in attendance for the 9th time in AT&T Park's 11-year history (and the first time since 2007). On Thursday, the Giants will take on the Braves at AT&T Park in Game 1 of the NLDS. Tim Lincecum will be up against Derek Lowe.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Giants' Celebration Put On Hold By Padres
The Giants did all they could to come back, but it just wasn't good enough. Freddy Sanchez has got to get a better read on the ball, although Huff did crush it. I just got back from the game late, so I wont be writing a full blog entry tonight, but I will tomorrow.
Boy, I hope they wrap this thing up tomorrow. You don't want this to linger too long and give the Padres any hope. Zito needs to come up big. He sure is earning enough money.
Boy, I hope they wrap this thing up tomorrow. You don't want this to linger too long and give the Padres any hope. Zito needs to come up big. He sure is earning enough money.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Giants Trim Magic Number To 1 In 4-1 Victory Over Diamondbacks
Tonight's my night off, but I have one thing to say that will sum up everything...
ONE!
ONE!
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