Giants beat Rangers to win World Series
The San Francisco Giants won their first World Series since 1954 on Monday night after beating the Texas Rangers 3-1 in game five.
Tim Lincecum delivered eight dominating innings and Edgar Renteria delivered the game-winning three-run home run in the seventh inning as the Giants stifled the Rangers in front of a dejected Texas crowd.
Facing Cliff Lee – Texas’ ace – Lincecum delivered a game winning performance, allowing just three hits and striking out 10 batters. The only blemish on the two-time Cy Young award winners’ box score was the solo home run he allowed Nelson Cruz in the seventh inning.
"It was a classic pitchers' duel down to that home run. Nobody in this room is more disappointed than I am," Lee said.
Lincecum’s performance allowed Brian Wilson to come in close out the game.
"San Francisco is going nuts, we're going nuts and it feels really good," Wilson said.
It was the second time in a week Lincecum has beaten Lee and the 26-year-old was delighted with the way he pitched.
"Pretty collected, I was very poised out there. From the first inning on my adrenaline kind of just dissipated and I was able to calm down," Lincecum said.
After his three-run blast Renteria was named MVP of the World Series becoming just the fourth player in MLB history to win the MVP of one World Series and make the last out of another.
"It was a tough year for me. I told myself to keep working hard and keep in shape because something is going to be good this year,” the MVP said.
The win gives the Giants their first World Series victory as the San Francisco franchise. They had previously won baseball’s biggest prize in 1954 as the New York Giants but moved to the Bay area in 1958.
Matt Cain, who hadn’t given up a single earned run in the play-offs this year, said the winning feeling still hadn’t sunk in.
"This doesn't make sense. You don't realize it. It's something that's surreal. But that's what we are, World Series champs," he said.
With the Rangers hitting just .190 and scoring 12 runs manager Ron Washington was gracious in deafeat. "They beat us soundly, they deserve it.”
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