All Hail the Giants

Edgar Renteria hit a two-out, three run home run in the seventh inning while Tim Lincecum allowed three hits and a run with 10 Ks over eight innings to lead the Giants to a 3-1 series clinching win over Cliff Lee and the Rangers tonight.

Scoreless into the seventh - neither team got a runner to second over six - the G-Men broke through. Cody Ross had a leadoff single, and Juan Uribe followed with another hit up the middle.

Aubrey Huff laid down the first sacrifice bunt of his career, but Lee got a big out by whiffing Pat Burrell. Then Renteria sent a drive that kept carrying and landed over the left-center field wall.

Nelson Cruz's seventh-inning home run provided Texas with its only run of the evening.

The Giants earned their sixth title overall, their first since 1954 and the move to SF. Since then, the Willie Mays - Willie McCovey - Juan Marichal team lost in seven in 1962, and the Barry Bongs club did the same in 2002.

Renteria was selected the Series MVP for his clutch hit. He batted .412 (7-for-17) with two home runs and six RBIs during the five game set.

Congrats to Freddy Sanchez and Javier Lopez, too, for winning rings after serving time with the Buccos; talk about rags to riches. Guess Brian Sabean isn't missing Tim Alderson, Joe Martinez and John Bowker too much right about now.

G-Men A Step Away

Madison Bumgarner allowed three hits over eight innings and struck out six, while Aubrey Huff and Buster Posey homered as San Francisco beat the Rangers 4-0 tonight. Bumgarner didn’t allow a runner past second base as the Giants took a 3-1 lead in the Series.

Bumgarner and Posey became the first rookie battery to start in the Series since Spec Shea and Yogi Berra of the Yankees in 1947. The Giants become the first team to post two shutouts in a World Series since the Baltimore Orioles threw three straight to close out the LA Dodgers in 1966.

The victory put SF within one win of the Giants’ first World Series title since 1954. Tim Lincecum pitches for the Giants against Cliff Lee tomorrow.

Ex-Bucco Freddy Sanchez was held hitless, but started two DPs and made a web gem leaping grab of Jeff Francoeur's line drive in the second. Steady Freddy is hitting .278 during the Series.

Giants Run With Home Advantage

The San Francisco Giants took a 2-0 lead in the World Series by blanking Texas 9-0 Thursday behind the strong pitching of Matt Cain and an eighth-inning implosion by the Rangers relievers.

Cain held the Rangers to four hits in 7-2/3 shutout innings as he extended his post-season scoreless streak to 21-1/3 frames. CJ Wilson was tough, too, leaving with two outs and the bases empty in the seventh because of a blister, down 2-0.

The Texas bullpen walked four straight batters, followed by a single by Edgar Renteria, a triple by pinch-hitter Aaron Rowand and a double by Andres Torres to get the fat lady ready.

The series moves to Arlington for game three Saturday night with Colby Lewis slated to go against Jonathan Sanchez. Games four and five, if needed, will be played at Texas.

Aces End Up Jokers

Well, so much for the highly anticipated pitching duel between Cliff Lee and Tim Lincecum. They gave up 16 hits and 10 earned runs, neither making it through the sixth, as the Giants romped 11-7 in the opening clash of the 2010 World Series.

Freddy Sanchez was one hitting hero; he went 4-for-5 with 3 RBI and 3 doubles off of Lee; Juan Uribe was the other, launching a three-run homer to help ice the contest in the sixth.

A game for the ages it wasn't; there were 25 hits and six errors banged out during the course of the evening. CJ Wilson and Matt Cain will try to restore some order tomorrow.

Giants In; Will Meet Rangers

The Phillies jumped off to a 2-0 lead against Jonathan Sanchez, but wouldn't touch home again as they lost to the Giants 3-2 to lose the NLCS 4-2.

The game winner was again delivered by Juan Uribe, who hit a two-out, eighth inning homer off Ryan Madson that dropped gently into the first row of right field seats.

Cody Ross was selected as the series MVP. Not bad for a guy that was claimed off waivers from Florida in August, hey?

The Giants are seeking their first World Series title since 1954 when they were still in New York, while Texas is making its first October Classic appearance in the club's 50 year history.

Tim Lincecum takes on Cliff Lee to start the World Series on Wednesday at AT&T Park. The NL finally won an All-Star game to earn home-field advantage in the World Series, and that’s good news for the Giants. They're 9-0 in interleague play against Texas at the Bay.

Ex-Buccos Freddy Sanchez (.360) and Javier Lopez (1-0, 2.08 ERA) have pulled their weight through the playoffs.

Rangers Romp

Bad Vlad Guerrero drove in three runs and Nelson Cruz hit a two-run homer to lead the Rangers to a series-clinching victory over New York, 6-1.

Colby Lewis went eight innings, giving up three hits and K'ing seven, for his second win of the series. Josh Hamilton earned the ALCS MVP award. And even better for Texas, Cliff Lee will be rested and ready to pitch game one of the World Series, the Rangers' first in the 50-year history of the franchise.

Phils Live Another Day

Thanks to a huge boot by Aubrey Huff and some gutty pitching by Roy Halladay, the Phils took a 4-2 decision from San Francisco to maintain a pulse in the NLCS. The defending league champs are down 3-2 in the best of seven series.

Halladay, pitching with a funky groin in a steady Bay drizzle, outlasted Tim Lincecum, who gave up three runs in the third frame, two on a hard-hit ball that careemed off of Huff's glove. It was enough.

It was thew second time that Cy Young winners Halladay and Lincecum matched up; they've each won a game.

Philadelphia's win forced a Game 6 back home in Citizens Bank Park on Saturday, with Roy Oswalt scheduled against Jonathan Sanchez.

Giants, Rangers One Win Away

-- Well, Madison Bumgarner and Joe Blanton didn't exactly light them up tonight; both were in the shower before the fifth inning was done, leaving a 3-3 game to the bullpens.

The Giants won that battle and the game 6-5 behind two doubles and 2 RBI from Buster Posey plus a walk-off sac fly by Juan Uribe to claim a 3-1 lead in the NLCS over the Phillies.

San Francisco can take the series at home tomorrow when they send Tim Lincecum against Roy Halladay. The G-Men haven't won a World Series since 1954, when they were in New York (they have won three pennants by the Bay).

-- CC Sabathia pitched good enough ball, and the New York Yankees beat the Texas Rangers 7-2 today. The Evil Empire is behind in the series 3-2.

Nick Swisher, Robinson Cano, and Curtis Granderson smacked NYY homers, and Sabathia made the lead stand up although he gave up eleven hits in six innings, but just two runs.

The series resumes Friday night in Arlington, with Phil Hughes taking on Colby Lewis. If a game #7 is needed, the starters would be Cliff Lee and Andy Pettitte.

This is Texas' 50th anniversary as a MLB franchise, and they have yet to reach the World Series. Now they have two shots at home to break that streak.

Playoffs

-- Matt Cain outpitched Cole Hamels as the San Francisco Giants beat the Philadelphia Phillies 3-0 Tuesday for a 2-1 lead in the NLCS.

Cain allowed two hits over seven innings, struck out five and walked three. It was his first playoff win and first W against the Phils. Hamels surrendered three runs and five hits in six innings. He struck out eight and walked one.

Joe Blanton will start for the Phillies tonight against Madison Bumgarner.

-- Bengie Molina hit a three-run blast off A.J. Burnett and Josh Hamilton added a pair of solo homers as the Rangers bombed the New York Yankees 10-3 last night for a 3-1 lead in the ALCS.

Today's game will match up CC Sabathia against C.J. Wilson, who were the mound opponents in the series opener.

Playoffs

-- The Phils evened their NLCS against the Giants yesterday with a 6-1 victory, fueled by a four-run seventh inning against Jonathan Sanchez and a posse of relievers. It was all Roy Oswalt needed; he gave up one run on three hits with 9 K's in eight innings of work.

-- Cliff Lee struck out 13 and held the Yankees to two hits over eight innings in pitching the Rangers to an 8-0 victory. Lee became the first pitcher to collect three 10-plus strikeout games in the same postseason.

Texas is up 2-1 in the ALCS.

Giants, Rangers Win

-- Tim Lincecum outdueled Roy Halladay, thanks to a pair of Cody Ross solo homers, and the Giants beat the Phillies 4-3 in Game 1 of the NLCS. Jason Werth and Carlos Ruiz homered to account for Philadelphia's runs.

The pitchers both worked seven innings, with Lincecum whiffing eight and Halladay seven. The bullpens slammed the gate over the last pair of frames; ex-Bucco Javier Lopez worked 2/3's of an inning with a K.

Game two is tomorrow night; Jonathan Sanchez goes against Roy Oswalt.

-- This time, the Rangers hung on to an early 5-0 lead and whipped the Yankees 7-2 at Arlington today. Texas beat up on Phil Hughes while Colby Lewis limited New York to two runs over 5-2/3 innings and the bullpen closed the door afterward.

The Rangers snapped a 10 game playoff losing streak to the Yankees and a seven game losing streak at home. Cliff Lee and Andy Pettitte will hook up Monday in the Big Apple with the series knotted at one win apiece.

Rangers Snatch Defeat From Jaws Of Victory

Up 5-0 at the end of six and 5-1 at the end of seven, the Texas Rangers kept their home playoff futility streak (0-for-forever) going, allowing the Evil Empire to come all the way back for a 6-5 victory.

Josh Hamilton's three run, first inning homer off CC Sabathia looked like it would break the jinx, but A-Rod's two-run single, a ball hit to third that had DP written all over it until a bad hop at the last instant, keyed a five-run eighth that carried the NYY to the win.

Mariano Rivera worked the ninth for his 42nd career postseason save, extending his major league record.

New York has won 10 consecutive postseason games against the Rangers, who were knocked out of the playoffs by the Yankees in their only three previous playoffs appearances (1996, 1998 and 1999). Texas is 0-7 in home playoff games, five of those losses to the Yankees.

Bits And Pieces

-- Chuck Finder of the Post Gazette reports that the Pirates interviewed 25-year organization veteran Jeff Banister, JR's interim bench coach, and Monroeville native Ken Macha, late of the Brewers.

-- Jen Langosh of MLB.com wrote than Ron Wotus, bench coach of the Giants and one-time back-up infielder of the Bucs, has expressed interest in the skipper's job, but isn't known to have a face-to-face set up with the FO. He joins Andy Van Slyke and Phil "Scrap Iron" Garner as guys hoping for a call from Neal Huntington.

-- Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors has his take on the upcoming Pirate arbitration class.

-- Baseball America selected its Top Twenty International League prospects; Buccos on the list are Pedro Alvarez (#9), Brad Lincoln (#15) and Jose Tabata (#16).

-- Bill Mazeroski will be honored by the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and Pirate Charities when they unveil a sidewalk plaque honoring Maz's 1960 homer in a ceremony at the intersection of Schenley and Roberto Clemente Drives in Oakland tomorrow.

In keeping with the October 13th tradition, started by Saul Finkelstein in 1985, a tape of the original radio broadcast of the game will be played at the Forbes Field wall and in Schenley Plaza. A half dozen or more of the 1960 Buccos are supposed to be there; the festivities start at noon.

The Post Gazette reports that the first telecast of Game 7 of the 1960 World Series since it was played fifty years ago will air on the MLB Network on December 15th, and early Christmas present for Pirate fans.

-- BTW, old Bucco skipper Lloyd McClendon will get an interview for Seattle job.

-- The Rangers' Cliff Lee added to his October resume, striking out 11 in a 5-1, six-hit victory over the Rays. Weird series; the road team won every game, a first in major league history.

Now the championship series are set; San Francisco at Philly and the Yankees at Texas.

Giants - Phils In The NL

Bobby Cox started his retirement a little sooner than he hoped for, as Cody Ross homered and drove in the go-ahead run with a seventh-inning single to lead the Giants to a 3-2 victory over Atlanta tonight.

Brian McCann homered and had 2 RBI for the Braves. Again, an Atlanta miscue hurt; Alex Gonzalez's error loomed large in the Giant's two-run seventh.

Madison Bumgarner got the win with six solid innings; Derek Lowe took his second loss of the series. With Billy Wagner, Chipper Jones and Martin Prado all injured, the Braves never got it rolling.

They visit the Phillies at noon on Saturday, October 16th to kick off the NLCS.

Playoff Report

-- Boy, do the Braves miss Martin Prado. His replacement, Brooks Conrad, committed three errors that allowed the Giants their first run and a few innings later, the winning run, as the G-Men rallied to take a 3-2 win and 2-1 lead in the NLDS.

Jonathan Sanchez was brilliant, striking out 11 in 7-1/3 innings while Tim Hudson quietly kept the Giants at bay. There was plenty of late-inning drama. First, Eric Hinske hit a two run homer in the eighth to give Atlanta a 2-1 lead, driving the tomahawk choppers into a frenzy.

The Braves were a strike away from victory in the ninth when an Aubrey Huff single tied it. Then Buster Posey smacked one to Conrad, and it went under his mitt as Freddy Sanchez sprinted home. Maybe the Braves miss Billy Wagner a tad, too.

They'll meet again tomorrow night in Atlanta.

-- Cole Hamels allowed five hits, no walks and struck out nine as the Phils swept their NLDS against the Reds by a 2-0 score. An Orlando Cabrera error allowed the first run to score, and a Chase Utley homer was the insurance. Johnny Cueto was the tough luck loser.

The Reds were the NL's top defensive team during the regular season, but wilted in the playoffs; six of Philly's thirteen runs were unearned.

-- Evan Longoria snapped out of his postseason slump with a homer and two doubles, Carlos Pena scored twice with a pair of extra-base hits, and Tampa Bay dodged elimination for the second day with a 5-2 victory over the Texas Rangers.

After losing the first two games of the ALDS at home, the Rays won both games in Texas (the Rangers historically are now 0-6 in playoff games at home) to force a deciding Game 5 at Tropicana Field on Tuesday night. It should be a dandy, with the Rangers' Cliff Lee going against the Rays’ David Price.

Tampa Bay, the AL’s best team in the regular season, is trying to become the only team other than 2001 New York Yankees to advance to a league championship series after losing the first two division series games at home.

-- Going into today, "highly questionable calls marred all but two of the first 10 division series games. Only Roy Halladay’s no-hitter and the Yankees’ clincher over the Twins were spared. Even Saturday’s Game 3 between the Rangers and Rays had two calls at second base that likely would have been reversed," writes Yahoo Sports Steve Henson.

Is replay or better umps the answer? MLB's gonna have to decide, and probably sooner rather than later.

Yanks In, Rays Still Alive

-- Phil Hughes pitched seven shutout innings, Marcus Thames and Nick Swisher homered and the Yankees beat the Twins 6-1 to complete a three-game sweep of Minnesota and return to the ALCS. The Evil Empire continues on its mission of world domination.

-- Tampa Bay avoided elimination in the ALDS with a 6-3 victory over the Texas Rangers. Tampa rallied in the eighth and ninth, scoring four times off closer Neftali Feliz and Dustin Nippert to cut the series deficit to 2 games to 1.

The Rangers, in their 39th season in Texas after 11 seasons as the Washington Senators, still have never won a home playoff game (0-5); they'll try again Sunday.

Saturday Notes

-- John Perrotto tweets that "Assistant GM Peter Woodfork leaves the Diamondbacks; Excellent chance he fills same job with the Pirates."

Woodfork, 34, had been the director of baseball operations/assistant director of player development for the Red Sox from 2003-05, when he joined Arizona. Before that, he worked in the Labor Relations department for Major League Baseball.

Frank Coonelly served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Labor in the Office of the Commissioner, so he and Woodfork should be familiar with one another.

Woodfork had long-term ties to former Arizona GM Josh Byrnes, and new D'Backs GM Kevin Towers probably wants to hire his own man, according to a tweet by Jon Paul Morosi of Fox Sports.

The Pirates don't have an Assistant GM position per se, but they do have five special assistant to the GM positions and a bevy of director/assistant director slots.

-- Ricky Ankiel hit an eleventh inning bomb into McCovey Cove to even the Giant-Brave series at one game apiece with a 5-4 win. Alex Gonzalez hit a game-tying, two-run double in the eighth against SF closer Brian Wilson, who led the majors with 48 saves this season.

The Giants gave up a four run lead in the defeat.

-- The Reds also squandered a four run lead to hand a gift-wrapped 7-4 win to the Phils and fall behind 2-0 in the NLDS. Philly scored twice in the fifth on back-to-back errors by Scot Rolen and Brandon Phillips.

In the seventh, a questionable attempt at a force play by Rolen was followed by Jay Bruce losing a soft fly in lights, allowing a sure out to roll to the wall; with a shot at the play at the plate, Phillips dropped the relay throw. It turned into a three run frame.

Cincy had been the best fielding team in the NL this year, but committed a pair of two-boot innings. The Phils had two errors themselves; it wasn't a very pretty game. Only five of the eleven runs that plated were earned.

One thing we learned tonight is that a four run lead doesn't mean what it used to this playoff season.

-- Baseball management, players and umpires will have a summit on the state of umpiring on December 3rd, just before the start of the winter meetings. The meeting was called at the request of the players' association, which has been logging an increased number of complaints from players this season about umpires and their on-field conduct.

October Ball

Hey, it went to the wire this year, but no convoluted playoff to reach the playoffs were needed, as has happened the past three seasons.

The Giants beat the Padres 3-0 as Jonathan Sanchez and five relievers blanked SD on four hits; Freddy Sanchez had a run scored and RBI in the win.

Atlanta won an 8-7 slugfest over the Phils, earning the wildcard spot and eliminating San Diego.

The Red Sox beat up Dustin Mosley and the Yankees 8-4, dropping the Evil Empire to wildcard status after Tampa Bay held off the KC Royals in twelve innings 3-2 to win the division.

The opening series:

National League: The East champion Phillies begin the defense of their back-to-back NL pennants at home against the Central champion Reds on Wednesday at 5:07 PM. and the West champ Giants host the Wild Card Braves on Thursday at 9:37 PM.

American League: The East champion Rays host the West champion Rangers, beginning Wednesday at 1:37 PM, and the Central champion Twins welcome the defending World Series champions and 2010 Wild Card entry Yankees, starting Wednesday at 8:37 PM.

Let the games begin!