The Comeback Kids – Showing America how the West was Won

Giants shock the Reds

By Katy Williams

No team has ever won three games in a row on the road to win a division series. But clearly someone forgot to mention that to the San Francisco Giants, who became the first team to do so by beating the Reds 6-4 on Thursday to earn a spot in the National League Championship Series.

In the first two games of the series, the Giants were only able to put two runs on the board. Even though Reds ace Johnny Cueto left Game 1 with a strained muscle after facing only one batter. Even though Matt Cain, who pitched a perfect game this season, took the mound in game one. Even though both of the games were played in San Francisco.

Just when it looked like the Giants were going to be quickly disposed of and quietly sent back to San Francisco for the winter, things began to turn around for this team that never seems to give up. Tuesday’s game three once again featured an anemic Giants offense, but this time the effort was accompanied by strong pitching and a bit of pure luck.

At the end of the ninth inning the game was tied 1-1.  Joaquin Arias hit a routine ball hit to third. Reds third baseman and eight-time Gold Glove winner Scott Rolen committed an uncharacteristic error when fielding the ball, allowing the winning run to score.

But the Giants luck did not stop there. A few hours before Game 4 on Wednesday, the Reds dropped projected starter Cueto because of his muscle strain. On this short notice, Mike Leake was given the start, and things finally began to click for the Giants offense.

Angel Pagan, Gregor Blanco, and Pablo Sandoval all hit home runs, which was quite a feat for a Giants team that finished last in the league in home runs.

But it wasn’t just the Giants offense that was full of surprises in game four. Two-time Cy Young award winner Tim Lincecum, who is not in the postseason starting rotation because of his pitching struggles this season, was brought in in relief and had one of his best outings of the season, posting six strikeouts and no walks to earn the win.

With the 8-3 victory Wednesday the Giants evened a series that days before had seemed decided, forcing a game five. All they had to do was win on Thursday to advance to the championship series.

The entire series came down to the top of the fifth inning. The Giants were able to put six runs on the board, including a grand slam by fan favorite and National League batting champion Buster Posey. The Reds would post four runs, but would never fully recover from the inning, losing 6-4.

For the Reds, the disappointment was nothing new. They haven’t won a playoff game at home in seventeen years. And for the Giants, who mounted the greatest comeback in divisional series history?

“I don’t think anybody gave up,” Posey told the Associated Press. “It was a spectacular moment,” outfielder Hunter Pence added.

Next up, the Giants will take on the winner of Game 5 between the Nationals and the Cardinals.