And That's a World Series Sweep

It took 10 innings, but the San Francisco Giants completed the sweep of the Detroit Tigers with a 4-3 victory. NLCS MVP Marco Scutaro drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th, while Sergio Romo struck out the Tigers in order in the bottom of the inning to close it out.

The Giants took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning after Hunter Pence hit a ground-rule double and scored on a Brandon Belt triple. In the bottom of the third, the Tigers finally scored - and took a lead for the first time in the Series - when Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run homer that energized the Comerica Park crowd.

Yet the excitement was relatively short-lived. Buster Posey's two-run homer in the top of the sixth gave the Giants a temporary lead, until ALCS MVP Delmon Young hit a solo shot in the bottom of the inning to tie it 3-3.

Both Matt Cain and Max Schezer allowed three runs each, with Cain striking out five and Scherzer eight. The Giants relievers didn't allow a hit, while the Tigers shut down the Giants until the 10th.

That's when designated hitter Ryan Theriot - now a back-to-back World Series Champion - led off with a single to center. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Brandon Crawford, then scored on Scutaro's single.

Pablo Sandoval was named World Series MVP after going 8 for 16 with three homers in Game One. He's only the fourth player in MLB history to hit three homers in a World Series game, joining Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson and Albert Pujols.

This is the Giants' seventh championship in franchise history, and second since moving to San Francisco. Their first, of course, was in 2010. It also marks the third straight year the National League has won the World Series, and fourth year of the past five.


Christine Coleman

World Series Game Four Preview

Is tonight the final game of the 2012 Major League Baseball season?

With the San Francisco Giants holding a 3-0 lead in the World Series after Saturday night's 2-0 win over the Detroit Tigers, they certainly hope so. They no doubt would love nothing more than to win their seventh straight game tonight and capture their second championship in three years.

The Tigers, obviously, are hoping otherwise. They'd like to find a little of the momentum they had in sweeping the Yankees during the ALCS.

Taking the mound for the Giants tonight it Matt Cain, who will be attempting to win his third clinching game this October. He gave up three earned runs in 5 2/3 innings to the Cincinnati Reds on Oct. 11, as the comeback Giants won the Division Series. His most recent start was last Monday against the Cardinals in Game Seven of the NLCS, which the Giants won 9-0. He allowed five hits and struck out four in 5 2/3 innings.

Max Scherzer gets the start for Detroit, and he's been very good this postseason as well. He allowed an unearned run on three hits in 5 1/3 innings in a Tigers loss to the A's in the Division Series and was the winning pitcher in the Tiger's ALCS sweep. He gave up one run on two hits in 5 2/3 innings in that game, striking out 10.

But what the Tigers need most of all is hitting. They became the first team since the 1966 Los Angeles Dodgers to be shut out in back-to-back World Series games, who were shut out by the Baltimore Orioles. Then again, the Giants have now recorded shutouts in four of their last six games.

So will the Giants finish the sweep tonight? Or will the Tigers find a way to get some offense going and force a Game Five on Monday night?

We'll find out starting at 8 p.m. Eastern Time tonight on FOX.

It Was The Bumgarner Redemption In Game Two

What a difference a night makes.

 After coming out and scoring eight runs against Justin Verlander, Al Alburquerque and Jose Valverde, the San Francisco Giants were held to two runs tonight.

Luckily for them, Madison Bumgarner pitched a resplendent seven innings of two-hit ball. He walked two and struck out eight.

Not to be outdone, Doug Fister also pitched a great game. He lasted six innings, gave up only one run on four hits and struck out three. Fister was lucky to last that long. He was struck in the head with a comebacker off the bat of Gregor Blanco in the bottom of the second inning. After getting checked out by his coaches and trainer, Fister walked Brandon Crawford to load the bases but was able to get his pitching counterpart, Bumgarner to pop out to end the inning the threat.

What happened next was remarkable, Fister set down the next 12 batters before giving up a two-out single in the sixth inning. Bumgarner was also on his game. From ESPN Stats & Info: He had 10 PA where he had 2 strikes on hitter - none were put in play (2 walks, 8 K) 

The Giants scored their first run in the bottom of the seventh on a bases loaded double play - Brandon Crawford hit into force out and Hunter Pence scored. They scored their second run in the eighth thanks to a Pence sac fly which scored Angel Pagan.

That was all the Giants needed. Santiago Casilla pitched a scoreless, hitless eighth and Sergio Romo came in and pitched a scoreless ninth to seal the win.

So now the Giants head to Detroit in control of the series but as we've seen so far in the postseason and in this series, you should always expect the unexpected.

World Series Game Two Preview

After last night's Game 1 victory over Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers, the San Francisco Giants are trying to accomplish something they haven't been able to do at all so far in the playoffs, to be the team with the early series lead.

San Francisco found themselves down 0-2 in the Division Series heading to Cincinnati for three games. And in the League Championship Series they were down 3-1 to the Cardinals and were able to pull off a nearly impossible series win in seven games.

Tonight's big stories will be Madison Bumgarner and the Tigers team as a whole.

Bumgarner has not had a good postseason. He's pitched in two games and has lost them both. Both games were at home and both outings were short. He lasted only 4 1/3 innings in a 9-0 loss against Cincinnati in NLDS Game 2 and in the NLCS he was even worse, giving up six runs in 3 2/3 innings - including two home runs - in Game 1 against the Cardinals.

For the Tigers, many people were wondering if the long layoff between their sweep in the ALCS and Game 1 had anything to do with their subpar performance last night. Or maybe the fact they were an 88-win team in a division that had three 90+ loss teams was finally catching up to them.

Doug Fister is looking to continue his strong postseason pitching tonight. He's only given up two runs in 13 1/3 innings of work.

So which story will win out in the end? The Bumgarner Redemption or the Tiger Resurgence?

We'll find out at later tonight.

Kung Fu Panda Makes History In Giants Game 1 Win.

It was quite a setting wednesday evening in San Fransisco as the underdog Giants got set to take on the well-rested and highly favored Detroit Tigers. There wasn't any way the Tigers weren't going to be favored because they had the reigning A.L. MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander on the mound. On the other side the Giants had a man on the mound who many people thought was a has-been, Barry Zito. Zito had just started building his reputation back after his best season with the Giants in which he won 15 games. And then after the Giants fell behind the defending world champs St. Louis Cardinals 3-1 in the NLCS Zito was called upon to pitch Game 5. Zito pitched 61/3 strong innings that night and the Giants went on to win Game 5 5-0. Zito continued his success with 5 1/3 innings of one run ball, but the highlight of the night was Pablo Sandoval. Sandoval hit three home runs in his first three at-bats, joining Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson, and Albert Pujols as the only players ever to hit three homers in one world series game. The Giants, on the strength of Pablo "Kung Fu Panda" Sandoval's three homers took an 8-1 lead in the ninth inning. George Kontos took the mound to try and get the three outs to get the Giants a Game 1 victory. But after giving up a one-out single Kontos served up a three-run homerun to Detroit infielder Johnny Peralta. But the Giants bullpen held on and the Giants defeated the Tigers 8-3 to take a 1-0 lead on the series. Tonight's game two feaatures righty Doug Fister going for the Tigers and slumping lefty Madison Bumgarner for the Giants. Pregame coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. ET. The play by play begins at 7:00 p.m. ET

The Ozzie Guillen Era Ended Before It Started.

Everything was bright and sunny in Miami Florida in the spring of 2012. The Miami Marlins had a new stadium, new star players, and a brand new fanbase. Superstars like Jose Reyes and Heath Bell joined the Marlins in hope of a championship. But the biggest addition of the offseason for the Marlins was the hiring of former world champion manager Ozzie Guillen and signing him to a four year 10 million dollar deal to become the Marlins new skipper. But after just a week into the regular season Guillen was quoted as saying he loved former Cuban dictator Fidel Castro during an interview with Time magazine. Guillen apologized numerous times but that comment ended up being the least of his worries. The Marlins began losing game after game. The Marlins went on a stretch where they lost 27 of 30 games played. Guillen and slumping closer Heath Bell had numerous arguments in the month of July. And then in August Ozzie Guillen was quoted as saying that Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton was the only reason the Marlins fans even came to the ballpark to watch the Marlins. So finally after a 69-93 finish and last place in the NL East division the Marlins finally let Guillen go yesterday.Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest says that he believes that the Marlins are a very talented team, but they just need to start over with somebody else. The search for a new manager will begin immediately. Candidates such as Brad Ausmus and Mike Redmond are being considered .

Tigers Await World Series Opponent

After completing a four-game sweep against the lifeless New York Yankees, the Detroit Tigers are waiting to see who they will be facing in the World Series next week.

The St. Louis Cardinals took a commanding 3-1 lead in their best of seven series against the San Francisco Giants with an 8-3 win at home.

If the Cardinals win and advance to the World Series, it will be a rematch of the 2006 World Series when then 83-78 St. Louis beat the 95-67 Detroit Tigers.

This year's match up, if it happens, will pair two teams that won under 90 games in the regular season. In fact, Detroit had the 7th best record in the American League and St. Louis had the 5th best record in the National League.

Game Five will see Barry Zito attempting to extend the Giants' season against Lance Lynn who is looking to send the defending Champion Cardinals to their fourth World Series in nine years.

Ludwick to turn down 5 mil mutual option, still hopes to return to reds.

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ryan Ludwick announced today that he will decline his 5 million dollar mutual option for the 2013 season. After a rough 2011 campaign that saw Ludwick play part of the season in San Diego and part of the season in Pittsburgh, Ludwick signed a one year deal worth 2.5mil to play for the Reds. Ludwick had a breakout 2012 season in which he batted .275 with 26 home runs and 80 RBI. He also posted an .877 ops. Ludwick said today that he will keep his options open but he hopes to work out a new deal with the reds.

Matheny to get an extension?

According to multiple reports, The St. Louis cardinals and manager Mike Matheny are working on a five year extension. Matheny lead the Cardinals in his rookie season as manager to an 88-74 regular season record and the second wild card spot. The Cardinals are still playing and are set to begin the NLCS tomorrow against the San Fransisco Giants.

Matheny is only signed through next season.                                                                                                                                                      

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Prediction for today's NL division series games: The Giants and Cardinals.

More to come on this blog! Stay tuned!