 Giants dethrone Phils and go to World Series!
Nederlands
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (USA) -
The San Francisco Giants are the champions of the National League after winning 3-2 on Saturday-evening in Game 6 vs. the Philadelphia Phillies to win the National League Championship Series, 4-2 and reach the World Series.
In another exciting one-run game, the Giants eliminated the NL-champion of last year and now will open the World Series next Wednesday at home vs. the Texas Rangers.
Roy Oswalt, who was the starter and winner in Game 2 and closer and loser in Game 4, started tonight for the Phillies and gave up a lead-off single to Andres Torres in the first inning.
But then, he struckout the next two hitters and ended with a flyout.
In the home of the first, the Phillies struck first, scoring two runs off starter Jonathan Sanchez.
With one out, Placido polanco walked and advanced on a wild pitch, then scored when Chase Utley followed with a double.
Next, Ryan Howard also singled to bring Utley to third base, who then scored on a sacrifice fly by Jayson Werth, which was in deep leftfield.
Another single by Shane Victorino followed, but the then inning ended when Raul Ibane popped out.
In the second inning, the Giants got two runners, but didn't score.
Pat Burrell led off with an infield-hit, but then was eliminated when Cody Ross grounded into a double play.
Next, Juan Uribe also singled, but was left behind.
In the home of the second, the Phillies were retired in order.
Then, a wild third inning followed with all kinds of action.
Jonathan Sanchez led off with a single for the Giants.
Then, Andres Torres drove the ball to deep centerfield, where Shane Victorino initially caught the ball just in front of the fence, but couldn't get it under control.
Sanchez was half-way waiting if it would be a catch and then advanced, while Torres was on his way to second base thinking it was at least a double, then had to turn around, as Sanchez was there and barely made it back to first base and settled for a long single.
The two runners then advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Freddy Sanchez.
Next, Aubrey Huff singled into centerfield, bringing home Sanchez, but Torres was also waved home, but was thrown out at the plate on a throw from Victorino.
On the throw home, Huff advanced to second base.
A grounder to third baseman Placido Polanco by Buster Posey then ended in a throwing error, as the ball hit Posey on his back, enabling Huff to score the tying run.
A flyout then ended the at bat.
In the home of the third, Jonathan Sanchez walked lead-off hitter Placido Polanco, then hit next hitter Chase Utley on his back.
Utley picked up the ball and tossed it back to the mound, which led to a verbal reaction by Sanchez and that led to the benches emptying on the field, as Sanchez and Utley started to exchange some words.
After the players had returned to the dug-out and no one was ejected, Giants-Manager Bruce Bochy took Sanchez out and brought Jeremy Affeldt to the mound.
With runners on first and second and no outs, Affeldt did great, as he struckout Ryan Howard, then saw Jayson Werth flyout and ended the inning with Shane Victorino grounding out.
After both sides were retired in order in the fourth, the Giants got two baserunners in the top of the fifth inning.
Pinch-hitter Mike Fontenot (hitting for Affeldt) led off with a single, then Freddy Sanchez singled with one out.
The two stranded as a pop-up and strikeout followed.
In the bottom of the fifth, Madison Bumgarner (who was the starter of Game 4) took over for Affeldt and gave up a lead-off single to Jimmy Rollins.
Two outs followed, but then Ryan Howard doubled.
The bases were then loaded by walking Jayson Werth intentionally to set up a force play.
A force out didn't follow, but batter Shane Victorino grounded the ball back to Bumgarner, who then ended the at bat by throwing him out at first base.
In the sixth Giants at bat, Cody Ross doubled with one out, then Juan Uribe was hit by a pitch, but Edgar Renteria grounded into a double play which started with a nice play by second baseman Chase Utley.
In the Phillies-sixth, Raul Ibanez led off with a double and advanced to third on a sacrifice fly, but he stranded when a strikeout and flyout followed.
And so the game arrived in the seventh inning, still tied at 2-2.
In the top of the at bat, Ryan Madson became the new pitcher for the Phillies and started with two strikeouts, then Freddy Sanchez doubled and Aubrey Huff was walked intentionally and then the Phillies got their force out on a grounder by Buster Posey.
In the home of the at bat, there also was another pitcher for the Giants, as Javier Lopez took over and he retired the side.
In the top of the eighth, the Giants took a 3-2 lead when Juan Uribe homered when two outs off Madson.
Tim Lincecum, who started Game 5 last Thursday, took over the pitching in the home of the eighth, pitching on one day of rest.
He started by striking out Jayson Werth, but then gave up a singles to Shane Victorino and Raul Ibanez.
That was it for Lincecum, who was replaced by closer Brian Wilson.
But no runs were scored, as next hitter Carlos Ruiz lined into a double play to first baseman Aubrey Huff.
In the top of the ninth, Brad Lidge was the new Phillie-pitcher.
After striking out the lead-off hitter, he gave up back-to-back singles to Andres Torres (bunt) and Freddy Sanchez.
Lidge then struckout Aubrey Huff.
Next, with runners on first and second base, Lidge walked Buster Posey intentionally.
Not only to create a force out, but also to pitch to pitcher Brian Wilson, who was the next hitter.
There would be no pinch-hitter, as Wilson was the closer for the Giants.
It worked, as the inning ended when Wilson grounded out, leaving the bases loaded.
In the home of the ninth, Wilson walked Jimmy Rollins with one out.
Then third baseman Juan Uribe made a great play on a grounder by Placido Polanco to force out Rollins at second base, but then Chase Utley walked to put a second runner on base.
The Phillies brought in pinch-runner Wilson Valdez for Polanco to set up the confrontation between Wilson and powerhitter Ryan Howard, who had no RBI's in this series.
Wilson won it as Howard was called out on strikes to end the game.
The Giants are back in the World Series for the first time since 2002.
It also meant that another champion was dethroned.
Did the Texas Rangers dethrone World Series and American League-champion New York Yankees, the Giants dethroned National League-champion Phillies, meaning the season for both finalists of last year is now over!
(October 23)
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