We knew that it wouldn't be easy. These are the two-straight NLCS champion Phillies looking to make history by winning a third straight. Although Halladay strained his groin in the second inning and did not have his sinker (KNBR this morning), he's a great pitcher so it is not like it would be easy in any case. And, as I noted in my post, how often can the Giants score 4-5 runs off Halladay? He's a great pitcher, he'll eventually figure it out against an offensively challenged team.
Some headlines state that Halladay "outdueled" Lincecum, but really, Lincecum outdueled Halladay, it is just that Lincecum's defense let him down and cost him the game. If Sandoval's foot had found 3B (a ballplayer said that was a tough play, to be fair) or Huff didn't muff that grounder, the Phillies don't score 3 runs that inning, probably either 0 or 1 at most. Or even Lincecum hitting Ruiz with 1-2 count? That leaves the game either tied 2-2 or Giants win 2-1. And what was with that call anyway, Ruiz didn't even try to get out of the pitch's path, according to the radio reports.
Bochy has already announced that this is not necessarily the last we have seen of Lincecum in this series. All hands are on deck (another reason I like Bochy now for leading these Giants), something he mentioned yesterday when saying that all the relievers would be available for yesterday's game. I assume Bumgarner might see some LOOGY action at some point himself.
FYI, the game time will depend on the results of the Yankees-Rangers game tonight. If the Yankees win, it would be 1PM, as the Yankees would still be alive and get the night game slot. If the Rangers win and advance to the World Series, it would be 5PM because, well, they have no other game to play in the timeslot.
Game 6: Oswalt vs. Sanchez
Same matchup as Game 2. Nothing much more to note, other than Oswalt had to pitch on Wednesday and was raked, and while they say that this will not affect him in this start, you have to think that this affected him in some way. And, as I noted, the hitters are starting to wake up, Torres and Franchez had 2 hits yesterday, Co-Dy! had another hit, Sandoval had a hit. I think it should be another good battle, but would note that Sanchez stepped up when the Giants needed him to and delivered a great start in the last start against San Diego, so my fingers are crossed for that to happen.
The Giants are still in great shape, they are up 3-2, and they only need to win one of the next two on the road. But as one reporter noted, the Giants faced such a situation twice before - St. Lou and Anaheim - and it did not end well for them those two times. Besides the fact that it was a totally different set of players each time and thus has no connection other than the team name on the front, a sample of two is not exactly a statistically significant sample. Else Willie Mays would never had his HoF career after going 0 for like 20 to start his career.
This is not much different from what they have been doing for the past almost four months, and particularly since September started. Just like how Halladay reversed things for the Phillies and winning his matchup this time, Sanchez could do the same for the Giants this time against Oswalt. And as noted, Oswalt was very hittable in his relief appearance, after the Giants bats had awoken, so this game will be very interesting to see if that was an aberration or a view of things to come.
Go Giants!
Not much to add here. The team has bounced back seemingly after every disheartening loss so far, so gotta think they can do it again. As you noted, it really just comes down to the Giants pitching vs their pitching, who's got their best stuff going and who doesn't. I'd feel a lot more confident if the last two were in SF, but either Sanchez or Cain are capable of going out and pitching a gem.
ReplyDeleteGo Giants!!!