Giants crush Rangers to clinch World Series after 56 years (Part 1)
The San Francisco Giants came close to winning the 2002 and the 1989 World Series, but they never got to the monumental moment. First, they lost the bid against the Oakland Athletics and then they went down against the Anaheim
Angels. Now it was the third West division team from the American League that went up against them in the bout and it was specifically the Texas Rangers. The feature between the two sides pointed at a steaming conflict that took place more on the west coast
than on any other state ground. The two ball clubs were aiming at glory that had not been claimed for a very long time. Both teams had their own reasons and it was important to realize how the clubs lined up against each other in the bout.
The Texas Rangers were never lucky in the playoffs. Mostly sitting on the bottom spot of the table, the American League champions had resurged from an otherwise, regular form, to outdo their former selves and win majority of their
fixtures in the normal league season. The ball club that had gone through to the post season, back in 1999, had pushed itself through to the biggest stage in Major League Baseball. They gave a hard time to majority of the top teams in all divisions throughout
the season and when it was time to face a strong Tampa Bay Rays roster, the West Side title champions did their bidding by putting the East region leaders out of contention.
The Texans had never won a playoff season because they never faced another ball club, other than the New York Yankees. Fortunately, for the fans that old score was going to be settled as the two teams met in the American League
championship. Already rallying from a strong playoff series brace, the Rangers wasted no time in bringing their strong rivals down and progressing through to the next stage in the game, towards the World Series.
The San Francisco Giants had a similar run in on the progression and their campaign in the National League West Division was mostly overshadowed by the San Diego Padres who dominated the top half of the table for most of the regular
season. The 10 games losing streak suffered by the Padres paved the way for the trailing ball club to gain ground on their competitors and walk through to the post season.
When the playoffs began the Giants gained a momentum that was unparalleled to their form in the regular season. Two times Cy Young Award winner, Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain combined with closer, Brian Wilson to put a hardcore defensive
and attacking formation on the mound. The hitters were on their own stride as well. Late acquisition of Cody Ross proved beneficial to San Francisco and the attacking batters were gaining form in the fixtures as the post season progressed further.
The Atlanta Braves tried to make a dent in the Giants’ advance but they failed miserably. By the end of the 4th fixture, the side that had made it on a wildcard berth found themselves out of the contest with a retired
Bobby Cox passing his torch on to the players. Manager Bruce Bochy was less than varied and restful. He strategized the win in the playoffs and he was up to the mantle again with the National League Championship where the side met the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Phillies were strong in control of their game play and three major pitchers made that possible. Roy Halladay had just come back from a second playoff no hitter, in history. Cole Hamels was the architect for Philadelphia’s progression
through the post season in 2008 and Roy Oswalt was a new addition who was shaping up to be a good ace pitcher in the ranks.
Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain defeated the side to get the Giants through to the World Series and it wasn’t a surprise, considering the untapped talent held within.
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