Giants vs Braves
San Francisco at Atlanta
Not every manager would put a rookie up against a rising star in the playoffs. However, Bruce Bochy believes in Madison Bumgardner. And Bumgardner came through.
So did Cody Ross.
Ross hit a home run and an RBI single, Bumgardner got the win by pitching 6 good innings and the Giants advanced to the NLCS, where they will play the Philadelphia Phillies.
Madison Bumgardner got into a bases loaded jam in the second, and he got into a runners on the corners jam in the third. Although he got out of the second, Brian McCann hit a sacrifice fly to put the Braves up 1-0.
The Giants only baserunner for 5.1 innings was Andres Torres, who reached on an error by Alex Gonzalez. Torres was also caught stealing second, and Lowe kept going, having faced the minimum 15 batters after 5 innings.
Bumgardner turned on in the 4th and 5th inning, retiring all 3 batters in each inning. He was able to record 2 strikes in those innings, and get ahead of the count, unlike he had done in the earlier innings. After 5 innings Atlanta led 1-0.
In the sixth, after Mike Fontenot struck out, Cody Ross came up. Ross played on Florida, in the same division as Atlanta, so he knew a little bit of Derek Lowe. He knew that Lowe loves the ground ball. But Lowe didn't give Ross a ground ball pitch.
Lowe made his only mistake of the night; giving Cody Ross a hanging curveball. Ross feasted on the pitch, hitting it over the left field wall for a home run. Although it almost stayed inside the baseball field, it still cleared the wall, tying the game.
However, Bumgardner, coming off of 2.1 perfect innings so far, gave Brian McCann nearly the same pitch. The lefty feasted on it, cracking it over the right field wall for a home run. It was McCann's second RBI of the night, and it put the Braves ahead 2-1.
In the seventh inning Derek Lowe got cold. Aubrey Huff walked, and then Buster Posey hit a bunt single in the perfect spot. After Pat Burrell walked the Braves knew they were in trouble. Derek Lowe was taken out, having pitched 6.1 2-hit innings, allowing just one run.
Juan Uribe came up, and he hit a grounder in the hole at shortstop. Alex Gonzalez made a nice play to field it, but his throw to second was wide. Pat Burrell appeared to be out, but the umpire called him safe. This call would make an impact on the game.
After Aaron Rowand struck out, Ross came up. And he would come through. Ross hit a single through the hole at shortstop, and Buster Posey scored. Although Pat Burrell was tagged out at home, the Giants took the 3-2 lead.
Santiago Casilla came into the game, and he made 2 nice fielding plays to end the seventh inning. After the Giants went empty-handed in the eighth Casilla recorded 2 more outs, but a dropped catch by Edgar Renteria kept the inning going. With lefty Jason Heyward coming up, Bruce Bochy went to the 'pen.
Southpaw Javier Lopez came in, and knowing that Lopez throws sidearm, Heyward knew he could feast on a low ball. But Heyward missed a slider, ending the eighth and getting the Giants closer to the NLCS.
The Giants got a baserunner on, but Travis Ishikawa grounded out into a double play to end the inning.
In the bottom of the ninth Brian Wilson came out. Brooks Conrad pinch-hit for Troy Glaus, but he flied out on a slider. However, the patient Rick Ankiel walked, and Eric Hinske walked as well. Wilson was in a jam.
Omar Infante came up, and Wilson got him checking his bat on a slider. Infante was called out, and the Giants were only 1 out away from the NLCS.
Melky Cabrera came up, and he hit a chopper to third base. Mike Fontenot fielded it and threw it to Travis Ishikawa. With outstretched arms, Ishikawa made the play, and the Giants had won the game!
San Francisco plays Philadelphia in the next round for a berth in the World Series. The series is in Philadelphia October 16-17 and 23-24, and it is in San Francisco October 19-21.
NFL headlines
Jets defense, Nick Folk helps New York beat Minnesota 29-20. With 1:30 left and Favre ready to lead a GW rally, Dwight Lowery intercepted a pass and took it to the house for a touchdown.
Not every manager would put a rookie up against a rising star in the playoffs. However, Bruce Bochy believes in Madison Bumgardner. And Bumgardner came through.
So did Cody Ross.
Ross hit a home run and an RBI single, Bumgardner got the win by pitching 6 good innings and the Giants advanced to the NLCS, where they will play the Philadelphia Phillies.
Madison Bumgardner got into a bases loaded jam in the second, and he got into a runners on the corners jam in the third. Although he got out of the second, Brian McCann hit a sacrifice fly to put the Braves up 1-0.
The Giants only baserunner for 5.1 innings was Andres Torres, who reached on an error by Alex Gonzalez. Torres was also caught stealing second, and Lowe kept going, having faced the minimum 15 batters after 5 innings.
Bumgardner turned on in the 4th and 5th inning, retiring all 3 batters in each inning. He was able to record 2 strikes in those innings, and get ahead of the count, unlike he had done in the earlier innings. After 5 innings Atlanta led 1-0.
In the sixth, after Mike Fontenot struck out, Cody Ross came up. Ross played on Florida, in the same division as Atlanta, so he knew a little bit of Derek Lowe. He knew that Lowe loves the ground ball. But Lowe didn't give Ross a ground ball pitch.
Lowe made his only mistake of the night; giving Cody Ross a hanging curveball. Ross feasted on the pitch, hitting it over the left field wall for a home run. Although it almost stayed inside the baseball field, it still cleared the wall, tying the game.
However, Bumgardner, coming off of 2.1 perfect innings so far, gave Brian McCann nearly the same pitch. The lefty feasted on it, cracking it over the right field wall for a home run. It was McCann's second RBI of the night, and it put the Braves ahead 2-1.
In the seventh inning Derek Lowe got cold. Aubrey Huff walked, and then Buster Posey hit a bunt single in the perfect spot. After Pat Burrell walked the Braves knew they were in trouble. Derek Lowe was taken out, having pitched 6.1 2-hit innings, allowing just one run.
Juan Uribe came up, and he hit a grounder in the hole at shortstop. Alex Gonzalez made a nice play to field it, but his throw to second was wide. Pat Burrell appeared to be out, but the umpire called him safe. This call would make an impact on the game.
After Aaron Rowand struck out, Ross came up. And he would come through. Ross hit a single through the hole at shortstop, and Buster Posey scored. Although Pat Burrell was tagged out at home, the Giants took the 3-2 lead.
Santiago Casilla came into the game, and he made 2 nice fielding plays to end the seventh inning. After the Giants went empty-handed in the eighth Casilla recorded 2 more outs, but a dropped catch by Edgar Renteria kept the inning going. With lefty Jason Heyward coming up, Bruce Bochy went to the 'pen.
Southpaw Javier Lopez came in, and knowing that Lopez throws sidearm, Heyward knew he could feast on a low ball. But Heyward missed a slider, ending the eighth and getting the Giants closer to the NLCS.
The Giants got a baserunner on, but Travis Ishikawa grounded out into a double play to end the inning.
In the bottom of the ninth Brian Wilson came out. Brooks Conrad pinch-hit for Troy Glaus, but he flied out on a slider. However, the patient Rick Ankiel walked, and Eric Hinske walked as well. Wilson was in a jam.
Omar Infante came up, and Wilson got him checking his bat on a slider. Infante was called out, and the Giants were only 1 out away from the NLCS.
Melky Cabrera came up, and he hit a chopper to third base. Mike Fontenot fielded it and threw it to Travis Ishikawa. With outstretched arms, Ishikawa made the play, and the Giants had won the game!
San Francisco plays Philadelphia in the next round for a berth in the World Series. The series is in Philadelphia October 16-17 and 23-24, and it is in San Francisco October 19-21.
NFL headlines
Jets defense, Nick Folk helps New York beat Minnesota 29-20. With 1:30 left and Favre ready to lead a GW rally, Dwight Lowery intercepted a pass and took it to the house for a touchdown.
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