The 2014 San Francisco Giants story began in spring training. New faces, new start but same drive and passion. The season started off with a bang. At one point the Giants were considered the best team in baseball, going head to head with the Oakland Athletics for that title. After a few key injuries and a stretch of bad baseball, the Giants had become one of the worst teams in baseball. The Dodgers caught then and surpassed them in the standings. When the season came to a close the Giants ended up with a 88-74 regular season record and tied with the Pirates. Both teams were going to go head to head on October 1st to determine who would enter the tournament as the wild card team.
Giants vs Pirates
Winner take all game. Madison Bumgarner (SF), or better known as MadBum to Giants fans was be the starting pitcher to get the Giants in. Since this was a winner take all scenario, all hands were on deck. The Giants won the game with big contributions from both Brandons (Belt 3-RBIs and Crawford with a Grand Slam) and MadBum threw a 4 hit shut out and with that the team that the experts said would not, could not beat the Pirates at PNC Park, were officially in the dance.
Giants vs Nationals
The National League Division Series (NLDS) The favorites coming in were the Washington Nationals. The first game was played on October 3, 2014 in Washington DC. The starters were Jake Peavy (SF) vs Stephen Strasburg (WASH) The Giants were up 3-0 going into the 7th inning when Hunter Strickland was brought into the game. 2 Solo Home runs later the lead was 3-2, but the Giants were able to hold and Santiago Casiila (SF) got the save.
Game 2 was a 6 hour and 23 minute classic. The Nationals scored in the 3rd inning and Jordan Zimmerman (WASH) was dealing. With 2 outs and one on in the 9th inning Matt Williams pulls him for the closer Drew Storen (WASH) . The Giants tied the game on a double by Sandoval (SF) and the game went into extras when Buster Posey (SF) was thrown out at home. The game went to the 18th inning, great pitching from both bullpens. Brandon Belt (SF) hit a monster home run to put the Giants ahead and Strickland (SF) got the save. 2 quality starts for the Giants in this game one from the starter Tim Hudson (SF) and the other from Yusmeiro Petit (SF). Giants took a 2-0 lead and were heading home.
Game 3 was a match up between MadBum and Doug Fister (WASH). In the top of the 7th inning, MadBum misplayed a bunt at 3 runs scored. The Giants dropped the game 4-1 and the chance to sweep the series.
Game 4 The Giants won this game on a run scored on a wild pitch. The Giants took that 3-2 lead and Casilla (SF) shut the door for the win and the series 3-1. The team that the experts said would not, could not beat the Nationals, were heading to the NLCS to face the Cardinals who had defeated the Dodgers earlier in the day
Giants vs Cardinals
This was the 4th time that both teams met in the National League Championship Series. The Cardinals winning in 1987 and the Giants taking both series in 2002 and 2012. Now it was 2014 and game 1 was about to begin.
Game 1 was played on October 11, 2014 in St. Louis. Madbum and the San Francisco bullpen combined for a 4 hit shut out and earned a game 1 victory to go ahead in the series 1-0
Game 2 was an exciting game. The Cardinals were up by 2 when the Giants answered back with a runs in the 5th, 6th and 7th to go up 3-2, but the Cardinals aided by solo home runs from Carpenter, Taveras and Adams got them the lead. The Giants tied the game in the top of the 9th only to have Kolten Wong (STL) hit a walk off home run to tie the series at a 1-1 heading to San Francisco.
Game 3 was an extra inning affair. The Giants raced out to a 4-0 lead in the 1st only to see the Cardinals chip away and tie the game in the 7th. In the 10th inning Brandon Crawford scored on a wild throw on a bunt by Gregor Blanco (SF) and the Giants took a 2-1 lead in the series.
Game 4 The Cardinals were up 4-3 by the end of the 3rd inning and the Giants mounted a 3 run 6th inning along with a strong performance by Petit (SF) to win the game and now had a commanding 3-1 lead.
Game 5 was played on October 16, 2014. The Cardinals lead the game 3-2 after 4 innings. In the 8th Michael Morse came off the bench and sparked the crowd and his teammates by hitting a Home Run to tie the game. In the bottom of the 9th, Travis Ishikawa (SF), who was on the 2010 World Series team, launched a walk off 3 run home run to send the Giants to the World Series for the 3rd time in 5 years.
The Giants won the series 4-1 and the team the experts said would not, could not beat the Cardinals were now National League Champions and going to the World Series.
Giants vs Royals
The 110th edition of the World Series was set to start on October 21, 2014 in Kansas City. Although both teams were evenly matched, the sports nation and so called experts had the 'unstoppable' Royals claiming their 'Destiny' and 'Taking the Crown" The Mayor of Kansas City was quoted as saying 'We've waited 29 years for this and not even a Giant can stand in our way' and it seemed that a lot of real and Bandwagon Royals fans believed it. So the stage was set, Dynasty vs Destiny... Giants vs Royals... Game on
Game 1: MadBum vs 'Big Game' James Shields (KC) The Giants went up right away 3-0 in the first with the help of a 2-run Home Run by Hunter Pence (SF), they added 2 more in the 4th and in the 7th. The Royals got a Home Run from Salvador Perez (KC) which was the first earned run given up by MadBum in his World Series career. The Giants won 7-1, handed the Royals their first post season loss and went up 1-0.
Game 2: The game was tied 2-2 going into the bottom of the 6th and then the Royals attacked and put up 5 on the board. The Royals went on to win 7-2 to tie the series 1-1 heading back to San Francisco.
Game 3: Tim Hudson (SF) finally got to start a World Series game. Huddy gave up a run in the first, the Royals added 2 more in the 6th and although the Giants answered with 2 of runs of their own in the bottom of that inning, it was not enough and the Royals won 3-2 and took a 2-1 Series lead. At this point the Giants knew that if they were to win the series, they would have to go back to Kansas City.
Game 4: The Giants took an early 1-0 lead. The Royals answered back with 4 in the 3rd after a miscue. Petit came in a pitched lights out while the Giants scored 1 in the 3rd, 2 in the 5th, 3 in the 6th and 4 in the 7th to make it 11-4 and that score would stand and now the series was tied 2-2. The Giants knew for sure there would be at least one more game in Kansas City.
Game 5: MadBum became the first pitcher to toss a shut out in the World Series since 2003. The game was a tight game until the 8th inning when Juan Perez (SF); who earlier heard the unfortunate news of his friend and Cardinals out fielder Oscar Tavares passing away at age 22, hit a booming double and eventually scored on a Crawford single. The Giants won on a 4 hit shut out, 5-0. Took a 3-2 series lead back to Kansas City.
The Giants have been in the position before, 2002 against the Anaheim Angels, they were up 3-2 going on the road, but they lost the series in 7 games. Would history repeat itself? or would the Giants finish what they started?
Back to Kansas City for at least one more game. Game 6 would be on October 28, 2014.
Game 6 would be a rematch between Jake Peavy (SF) and Yordano Ventura (KC). This game was over by the 2nd inning. The Giants gave up 7 in that frame and Ventura (KC) just dominated. The game ended 10-0. Ventura (KC) dedicated the game to the memory of Oscar Tavares, Just a quick note, while watching the game I must say that I did not like the attitude that Ventura (KC) had. He pitched out of his mind, the Giants were off balance they had no chance that night. But the theatrics with the high leg kick, the staring down the runner while they ran to first was not needed. But that's baseball. So now the series was tied 3-3 and just like that game on October 1st against the Pirates, this would truly be a winner take all game.
Game 7 was played on October 29, 2014. Tim Hudson (SF) got the start against Jeremy Guthrie (KC). The Giants went ahead 2-0 in the top of the 2nd, the Royals answered back quickly to tie it and Huddy got the hook. Bochy brought in Jeremy Affeldt (SF) and he was really on top of his game. Quick aside here, in 1985 the Royals took advantage of a blown call by first base umpire Don Denkinger and the Royals ended winning game 6 in comeback fashion and blew out the Cardinals in game 7. Let's get back to game 7. Eric Hosmer (KC) hits a ground ball to 2nd basemen Joe Panik (SF) and he dives, flips the ball out of his glove to short stop Brandon Crawford (SF) who flings the ball to 1st basemen Brandon Belt (SF) and he's ou.... wait.. SAFE! what do you mean safe? Bochy comes out and they review the play, showing that the ball did beat Hosmer (KC) to the bag and the double play was called. The correct call was made. Starting the 5th inning out of the bullpen was MadBum.
After he gave up a hit, he settled down. It wasn't until with 2 down that Alex Gordon (KC) hit a single that was misplayed by not only Gregor Blanco (SF) but by Juan Perez (SF) as well that made it more stressful. Now with a runner on 3rd (single and 2 base error) and 2 outs, the hitter was Salvador Perez (KC), who had hit a home run off of MadBum in the first game. The pitch and he popped it up in foul territory and Panda secured the out and the Giants, the team that was not supposed to be there, the team that would not, could not defy the odds, defy history, deny destiny were the World Champions again for the 3rd time in 5 years.
The Giants wrote that last page of the story, they won the last game. I guess the Mayor of Kansas City can clearly see that a Giant can stop destiny. Bruce Bochy (SF) did it again, he should be in the Hall of Fame. MadBum was World Series MVP and the celebration was on. I wrote myself a note before I left work before first pitch:
"Last game, last call
up against the sports nation, up against history.
Backs are up against the wall,
but that is when the Giants stand tall.
They will write a new chapter in baseball history'
The Royals were a great team, which helped make this a great World Series. Parade is set for Halloween an awesome Orange and Black affair! #VamosGigantes
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