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.
No comments:
Post a Comment