The Giants completed an EPIC comeback in the NLCS, coming back from being down 3-1 in a seven game series and beating the Cards 9-0, behind the stout pitching of Matt Cain, 4 PQS DOM start (one out away from a third 5 PQS start by Giants starters, he clearly yelled "NO!" when Bochy came out, and he most likely would have been given the chance to do that by Bochy if 1) the Giants weren't leading by 7-0, 2) Cain was already at 102 pitches, and 3) Bochy wants to save Cain for the World Series).
He continued a streak of three DOM starts by the Giants starting pitchers, and they had DOM starts in 5 of the 7 games, a stark and necessary change from their 1 DOM start in 5 games in the NLDS against the Reds. They should not have been put into the position of needing to win the last three games, they outpitched the Cards by PQS in 5 of the 7 games, but the win by Lohse in game 3 made it necessary. And Cain delivered like he did in the 2010 playoffs, shutting out the Cards, winning easily.
Of course, it helped greatly that the Giants scored runs in their first three innings, including 5 in the third to take a 7-0 lead, with Pence delivering a key hit, driving in two of the runs, and ended the day with 2 hits. Belt belted one deep into the RF stands for a homer and 9-0 lead.
They are the first team since the 1985 Royals to come back in two series down by two games and winning three straight to win each series. They are the only two teams to do that since the MLB expanded the playoffs to four teams in both leagues in 1969.
And, in any case, any way you write it, winning six straight elimination games like that is EPIC no matter how many or little teams in the past have done that. It takes a lot of cujones to do that, and Posey and Cain, to me, are the leaders who instills this sense in the team that anything is possible. After all, it was the two of them talking at the celebration parade about returning to the World Series and winning it again. It was Cain who earlier this season exhorted his teammates: "Here, I'm going to keep battling for you. You keep battling for me." The Giants have been 85-56 since Cain made that statement, and won the NL Championship and earned another trip to the World Series.
Finally, it was very fitting that Holliday popped up to Scutaro for the last out. His dirty slide really pissed off the Giants, particularly Scutaro, who did not hit well against the Reds.
Also, Marco Scutaro won the NLCS Most Valuable Player Award for his stellar hitting, 14 hits in total in the NLCS, 6 runs scored, 4 RBI, and he struck out only one time in 27 AB, he had 2 walks. He's the second consecutive late season pickup to win the NLCS for us, Cody Ross being the other one. Speaking of Ross, Marco tied Ross's team record of hits in 10 straight games.
This is the 19th time the Giants have gotten to the World Series, second only to the Yankees. They get home advantage because the NL won the All-Star game
To quote Shankbone and repeat the sentiments, "The Giants Win the Pennant!"
As I've been saying for a number of years now: The Giants are the Team of the 2010 Decade.
Go Giants! Win it again!
Indeed.
ReplyDeleteEPIC!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.csnbayarea.com/baseball-san-francisco-giants/giants-talk/Cain-will-try-to-end-history-of-Game-7-p?blockID=791909&feedID=10850
The Giants have never won a Game 7 in their 128 years of dancing on diamonds.
And now they have.
Forgot to mention that with this victory, the Giants achieved vengeance against the Cards for that horrible 1987 series.
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I thought that in the 1987 the giants were both playing against the Cards and the umpires. I remember that key called strike 3 on Clark that was way high and way inside during a key situations with runners in scoring position and two outs. I think perhaps that the bases were loaded. I WATCHED that called strike in a crucial situation a hundred times or more, and every time the pitch is clearly a ball, not even close to the strike zone. Yet every time the umpire calls it a strike. What a deflating call that was. Also what a terrible call it was.
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ReplyDeleteThe Giants are the first team in MLB history to win six elimination games en route to the World Series.
Another EPIC footnote to game 7, it was obvious but I missed mentioning it.
Should have included this EPIC gem from Pavlovic too:
Deletehttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/giants/2012/10/22/pence-gets-his-pitch-and-hits-it-and-then-hits-it-again-and-again/
Hunter Pence had a simple message, even a bit of a warning, on his first day as a Giant: “I have to be honest,” he said. “Every now and then, I do things you don’t see very often.”
Yeah, but this?
A triple-hit double that fooled the shortstop and his own teammates, then slid under the center fielder’s glove as Buster Posey scored from first? This?
“That ranks up there,” Pence said, smiling.
It tells you all you need to know about Pence’s unorthodox way of playing that he can’t even call that play, one of the strangest three-run doubles in history, the weirdest play of his career. He knows he doesn’t play this game the way you’d expect, and he’s fine with that. The Giants, headed to the World Series, couldn’t care less.
“He’s unique in his style of hitting,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “We’ll take it, though. Breaks help you win games like this, and I was glad for Hunter. He’s done so much to help inspire these guys with his little talks.”