San Francisco, CA -- In the last two years, we have seen players get traded, go down with injuries and admit to using PED's. But overall, the one goal was achieved and that's making it back to the World Series.
The Giants shutout the St. Louis Cardinals 9-0 and Marco Scutaro was awarded with the NLCS MVP. A sweet victory that came in the final moments of the game was nothing short of spectacular. The resilience of this team proved they deserved to be right where they are.
"Every year is unique in it's own way," manager Bruce Bochy said. "2010 was with the misfits, as we called them. What we had to go through, here, with the adversity throughout the year. And of course getting down two games to Cincinnati and going down 3-1 to this great club. And finding a way to get it done just makes this so much special, I think."
Facing five elimination games to emerge from triumphant might be the best this team has done in the last two years. San Francisco provided outstanding pitching when it counted most and their MVP Scutaro provided the spark the offense needed to advance to the World Series.
"It means, a lot man," Marco said. "Just to be part of this team and just being in the playoffs and having the opportunity to live this experience for me is unbelievable. I've played with a bunch of guys with a span of years in the big leagues and never had this opportunity to be in the playoffs or World Series."
The Giants again got off to another great start just as they did the night before. Back-to-back singles from both Angel Pagan and Scutaro. Then an infield ground out by Pablo Sandoval put San Francisco on the board first. But it was the domination in the third frame that sealed their win.
Five runs scored for a 7-0 lead left the Cardinals on the brink of elimination. Another single from Marco, a double from Pablo Sandoval and Kyle Lohse walked Buster Posey to start the third. A two-run double from Hunter Pence and an error at short stop brought in three run with no outs. Add two more runs with a fielder's choice and a RBI single.
"If you look at the [three] games, we made a lot of mistakes and they didn't make any mistakes," Carlos Beltran said. "They were able to put things together with the offense, defense and pitching. And we couldn't do that."
"I got myself into trouble early, and there's no room for error in a game like this," said Lohse. "It just happened toe the worst possible moment."
Kyle lasted two innings and pitched to three batters in the third. He gave up six hits, five runs (all earned), one walk and one strikeout. While St. Louis almost cleared their bullpen, nothing could stop the Giants. They added two more runs including a solo home run from Brandon Belt in the eighth.
"I think those first two or three innings were probably the turning points of the game," said Posey. "Because if they get on the board quick and get a little momentum, it could be a different game. I think Matt [Cain] did a great job of shutting them down."
Cain provided some offense support with a RBI single as well as apply pressure on St. Louis with an outstanding night on the mound. Lasting 5 2/3 innings, Matt yielded five hits allowing no runs, gave up one walk and struck out four.
"Being a first timer in the playoffs and to get this far and win it in this fashion is awesome," Pagan said. "But there is one more step, we have to get ready for Detroit, they're a very good team. So we have to go out there and get it done all the way."
"This one hurts for sure,because we understood last year how cool it is to play deep into October," said David Freese. "Now we're going to go home and watch the Giants. But that's a great group over there. Heck of a team. Good luck to those guys."