San Francisco wins its first USBLM World Title!


Game One from San Francisco
The West Coast Series began today as the Giants send Matt Cain to the mound and the Mariners counter with Jeremy Benjamin. Seattle wasted no time in getting to Cain with 2 quick runs in the top half of the first inning thanks to a 2-run single by Dennis Raben. San Francisco cut the lead in half with an RBI groundout by Emmanuel Burriss. Both starters were cruising along until the 5th when the Giants tied the game up on an error by third baseman Jharmidy DeJesus. In the 6th, the Giants took their first lead of the game when Nate Schierholtz scored on a wild pitch. Seattle tied it back up in the 8th on an RBI double by Pedro Alvarez. With no scoring in the 9th, the Series opener would go to extra frames. Seattle was unable to score in their half of the 10th and trouble struck in the bottom half. Adam Witter drew a 2-out walk and Angel Villalona followed with a walk-off triple giving the Giants the 1-0 Series lead.

Game Two from San Francisco
Game Two brings a pretty good pitching matchup with 14-game winner Tim Alderson going for the Giants and 16-game winner Brett Cecil on the mound for Seattle as the Mariners try to even the Series at one game apiece. And it got off to a good start for the M's as Cliff Pennington smacked the first pitch he saw into the stands for a solo homer and an early 1-0 lead. San Francisco tied it up in the 2nd when Michael Durant scored on a wild pitch. It was the 2nd game in a row the Giants got a run on an errant pitch. Things got worse for the Giants from there as Seattle scored 4 runs in the 3rd to take a 5-1 lead. Pedro Ciriaco doubled, stole third and scored when Adam Witters throw sailed into left field. Pennington got a one-out single and Tyson Gillies followed with another. Abraham Floyd got a first-pitch double scoring both Pennington and Gillies and then he scored himself on a Sac Fly by Chris Davis. Seattle got 2 more in the 4th to make it 7-1 on a couple of RBI singles and the blowout was on. The score stayed the way until the last of the 9th when San Francisco's offense finally woke up and made the Mariners a little nervous with 3 runs. But the rally fell short and Seattle came away with a big, Game Two win to even the Series at one game apiece.

Game Three from Seattle
To Seattle we go for Game Three of the 2012 World Series. This one was a pitchers duel throughout. San Francisco sent 19-game winner and Cy Young candidate Wynn Pelzer to the mound against Seattle's Brett Myers. Myers was a curious choice having only started 11 games in the regular season, but he made Seattle Manager Pat Coffey look like a genius. Nate Schierholtz started the scoring in the first inning with a solo homer off of Myers. Neither starter disappointed as the score stayed 1-0 until the last of the 5th when Seattle tied it at 1 on an RBI single from Abraham Floyd. San Francisco went back up 2-1 when Michael Durant scored thanks to a dropped pop-up by Seattle catcher Michael McCormick. Seattle tied it in the 7th on a solo homer by Cliff Pennington, his 2nd of the Series. The score would remain tied at 2 until the 15th inning. In Seattle's half something you don't see everyday occurred. Did you guess walk-off BALK? Probably not, but thats what happened as Tyson Gillies was awarded home plate on a balk by Edwin Quirarte and handed Seattle a 2-1 Series lead.

Game Four from Seattle
Seattle looks to take the Giants to the brink of elimination with a win today and they send youngster Kyle Drabek to the mound against San Francisco's Madison Bumgarner. Bumgarner was simply outstanding in this one allowing just 2 hits and no runs over 7 innings before giving way to the bullpen. The Giants offense took care of the rest scoring 6 runs to take Game Four, 6-0. Emmanuel Burris went 3 for 3. Pablo Sandoval had a 2-run single and the Giants had 4 doubles amongst their 12 hits to pace San Francisco. Up next is an all-important Game Five with the Series tied at 2.

 

 Game Five from Seattle
It's time for the pivotal Game 5 and San Francisco will send Tim Lincecum to the hill to face Seattle's Jeremy Benjamin. The Giants took a 1-0 lead in the 2nd inning on a solo homer by catcher Adam Witter. Lincecum was simply masterful thru 4 innings but Seattle's catcher, Michael McCormick got ahold of one to tie the game up at one with a solo homer of his own. The lead didn't last long however as the Giants countered with a 3-run homer by Michael Durant in the 6th. That would be it for the scoring in this one as Lincecum went 8 innings and scattered just 4 hits to help put the Giants up 3 games to 2 with the final 2 games to be played on their home turf-- as needed!

 

Game Six from San Francisco
The Mariners try to extend the Series to 7 games in this one as they throw Juan Ramirez. San Francisco looks to Matt Cain to get the Series clincher. The Giants started out looking like they meant business by getting the games first run in their half of the first inning. Michael Durant singled in Pablo Sandoval. Cain cruised thru the first 3 innings and then the wheels fell off. Cliff Pennington led off with a single and Tyson Gillies followed with a 2-run bomb. Abraham Floyd was up next and doubled. He later scored on an RBI single from Michael McCormick to give the M's a 3-1 lead. They added another when Floyd plated Pennington with a single and got 2 more in the 7th when Pennington homered and Floyd got an RBI double. That would be it for the scoring as Ramirez pitched a gem and the Mariners got what they came for, a Game 7.

 

Game Seven from San Francisco

This is what any right-minded ballplayer would dream of, a chance to be the hero in a Game 7 of a World Series and someone will fill that role today. We've got a pretty good pitching matchup with San Francisco's Tim Alderson going against Seattle's Brett Cecil. The Giants struck first on a Sac Fly by Nate Schierholtz on the bottom of the 1st. Seattle tied it in the 2nd when Jharmidy DeJesus scored on an error. They then went ahead 2-1 in the 4th on a solo homer by Dennis Raben. San Francisco came right back and tied it on an RBI single by Emmanuel Burriss. The Giants went ahead in the 5th, 3-2 on an error that allowed Fernando Perez to score. Seattle tied it back up in the top of the 7th on a solo homer by DeJesus and this had the makings of one of the all-time classic World Series. San Fran answered in a big way in their half of the 7th with 2 more runs and a 5-3 lead. Pablo Sandoval had an RBI singled and Adam Witter added a sac fly. Seattle went quietly in the 8th as Tyson Gillies got picked off first base to end the inning. After the Giants were held scoreless, we head to the 9th for the final shot for Seattle. Carlos Gutierrez was called on to close as the normal closer Edwin Quirarte was unavailable for reasons yet to be revealed. Roman Diaz came up first and was caught looking at a strike three. Michael McCormick drew a walk on four straight balls though and Seattle was in business. Dennis Raben was the next batter and he went down swinging at strike three. Wilkin Ramirez came in to pinch-run for McCormick and it was left up to DeJesus to try to keep the M's alive. Gutierrez gunned him down, striking out the side and the San Francisco Giants clinch their first ever USBLM Title. Congrats to GM and Manager Adam Metaxas on a fine season!