Both AL and NL Championship series were won in Game 6 of 7. The Texas Rangers were the first to know they were in the World Series when they beat the New York Yankees in Game 6 in Texas. The San Francisco Giants beat the Philadelphia Phillies in Philadelphia.
Josh Hamilton won ALCS MVP honors. Josh Hamilton within the ALCS went 7-for-20 (.350); with 6 runs, 7 RBI, 8 BB, and 4 HR. In Game 1 of the ALCS, the Rangers had the lead until the top of the 8th when the Yankees came back and scored 5 which led to a 6-5 win for the Yanks. That lose for the Rangers was very frustrating since they had the lead until that dreadful 8th inning where Brandon Gardner lead off with a single, then Derek Jeter hit an RBI double, Alex Rodriguez (A-Roid) hit a 2 RBI single, Robinson Cano hit an RBI single, and finally Marcus Thames hit an RBI single, all this damage was done with no outs (scoring plays). The Rangers came back for Game 2 and won 7-2. They then had a day off to travel to New York. The Rangers sent the Yankee fans out of the stadium before the game ended with an 8 to 0 win. I'm sure those fans were saddened to miss the Rangers score 6 in the top of the 9th, just putting some cushioning on their 2-0 lead..., Josh Hamilton hit a leadoff double which lead to Nelson Cruz hit an RBI single (hit Hamilton home), Bengie Molina hit an RBI single, Mitch Moreland hit a 2 RBI single, Elvis Andrus hit an RBI double, and finally Mitch Moreland scored on a wild pitch by David Robertson (scoring plays). Yet another game where most of the Yankee fans left the stadium before the last out, the Rangers won 10-3. The Rangers had 4 HRs during this game; 1 from Bengie Molina in the top of the 6th, 2 from Josh Hamilton in both the top of the 7th and the 9th, and 1 from Nelson Cruz in the top of the 9th. The first 3 games of the series the Rangers scored first and in the 1st inning. The Yankees staff threatened the Yankees to win this game to send the series back to Texas so they wouldn't have to clean up the champagne shower (party) for Texas winning the series. The Yankees won 7-2, putting some hope back to the Yankees and Yankee fans, though Yankee fans always think they can win it all... The Yankees hit 3 baseballs out of the park while Rangers hit only 1 baseball out of Yankee Stadium; for the Yankees Nick Swisher hit a solo home run, Robenson Cano hit a solo home run (both hit in the 3rd inning), and Curtis Granderson hit a solo home run in the 8th inning; Rangers only (solo) home run in this game was from Matt Treanor in the 5th inning. Rangers finished what they couldn't do in New York at home in front of their home fan base by winning Game 6, 6 to 1. Only home run in this game was a 2 run home run by Nelson Cruz in the 4th inning where they scored 4 of the 6 runs. The final out was a strike out of Alex Rodriguez, looking. Then celebration began and is probably still going, specially for the fans.
Cody Ross received NLCS MVP honors. Cody Ross during the NLCS went 7-for-20 (.350, same as Josh Hamilton); with 4 runs, 5 RBI, 2 BB, and 3 HR. Game 1 was hosted in Philadelphia, where the pitching matchup was Roy Halladay vs. Tim Lincecum. This was the first game Roy Halladay pitched after pitching a no-hitter to the Reds in Game 1 of the NLDS. Halladay gave up his first hit and run on the same pitch during the 3rd inning to a solo home run by Cody Ross, he'd end up hitting 2-for-2 off Halladay (in this game); with 2 (solo) home runs and a walk. Halladay got his first lose in postseason play with pitching only 7 innings allowing 8 hits and 4 runs (all earned), and Tim Lincecum got the winning decision with pitching 7 innings as well allowing 6 hits and 3 runs (all earned). Phillies also scored 2 home runs but by different people; solo home run by Carlos Ruiz, and a 2 run home run by Jayson Werth. Phillies won Game 2, to make up for the lose in Game 1 to their fans, by a score of 6-1. Phillies scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 7th to secure there lead of 2-1. Roy Oswalt, starting pitcher, hit a lead off single, Placido Polanco singled in Roy Oswalt with 1 out, and Jimmy Rollins hit a 3 RBI double with 2 outs. Both teams have a travel day to head to the West Coast, San Francisco. The Giants won 3-0 for the first NLCS game at home. Cole Hamels got the losing decision but only allowed 5 hits, but all 3 runs (all earned), and he pitched for 6 innings. Giants starting pitcher Matt Cain got the win, pitching 7 innings, allowing 2 hits and no runs, and Brian Wilson, with the dyed beard, received the save only allowing 1 hit in the top of the 9th. Giants won the next game, the next day, as well by only one point (6-5). The Phillies scored 4 in the top of the 5th; Ben Francisco hit a lead off single, Shane Victorino hit a single that brought Ben Francisco home (RBI single), Placido Polanco hit a 2 RBI double, and Placido Polanco scored on a wild pitch by Santiago Casilla (scoring plays). The game was tied at 5 at during the bottom of the 9th until Aubrey Huff singled with 1 out, Buster Posey singled and Aubrey Huff got to third (scoring position) with 1 out, and then Juan Uribe hit a sacrifice fly that brought Aubrey Huff home for the win (scoring plays). The Phillies wanted a chance to win the NLCS, and at home. The Phillies won the final game in San Francisco (for the NLCS) 4-2. This was a rematch of Roy Halladay and Tim Lincecum, but this time the winning and losing decision was flipped, Halladay got the win while Lincecum got the lose. Cody Ross only got one hit off of Halladay during this game and it was an RBI double. Another travel day but this time both teams traveled from the West coast to the East coast. The first game back in Philadelphia the series was over. Unlike the Texas Rangers, the San Francisco Giants won the series infront of opposing fans. This game was awesome probably my favorite postseason game ever! Brawls, I love them. During the 2nd inning Chase Utley was unintentionally hit by a pitch by Jonathan Sanchez, Chase Utley wasn't a fan of this and while he was taking his base the ball bounced into his hands so he tossed it back to Jonathan Sanchez. Jonathan Sanchez was not a fan of that. Chase Utley and Aubrey Huff had some words. Then the benches started to clear on both sides. The umps did a really good job of seperating it, though I really wanted some fists flying... Anyhow, no one was ejected but Giants manager, Bruce Bochy, took Jonathan Sanchez out of the game and replaced him with Jeremy Affeldt. Tim Lincecum came into relieve during the 8th inning while Brian Wilson warmed up, Lincecum, only his 2nd relief appearance, pitched to 3 batters allowing 2 hits and striked 1 out. Brian Wilson then pitched the final 2 outs of the 8th inning and then 3 outs in the 9th inning for the save. Brian Wilson gave up two walks in the ninth but no hits or runs, and the last out was a strike out to Ryan Howard, also looking just like Game 6 of the ALCS.
I loved both championship series. As a Yankee hater, the ALCS was great watching them get beat and when they were it was bad. Also watching there fans leave Yankee Stadium was awesome! But baseball wise the NLCS was the best with many close games. You weren't sure which team was going to win. Also now with the Rangers and Giants in the World Series, it can be called the Underdog Series. Since both of the losing teams in the championship series have been to the World Series many, many times it makes it much more of a 'cinderella' story in the making, specially since this is the first time the Rangers have been in the World Series.
Links to box scores:
ALCS Game 1- ESPN: http://es.pn/9YFx3G
ALCS Game 2- ESPN: http://es.pn/aPFQr3
ALCS Game 3- ESPN: http://es.pn/cG3Pc5
ALCS Game 4- ESPN: http://es.pn/aHjZx3
ALCS Game 5- ESPN: http://es.pn/9Cpx7f
ALCS Game 6- ESPN: http://es.pn/blTfcF
NLCS Game 1- ESPN: http://es.pn/cE46wB
NLCS Game 2- ESPN: http://es.pn/aeJHRM
NLCS Game 3- ESPN: http://es.pn/cy6Isg
NLCS Game 4- ESPN: http://es.pn/bek8Gq
NLCS Game 5- ESPN: http://es.pn/awLFL6
NLCS Game 6- ESPN: http://es.pn/cMXbnD
Links:
The Y'all Classic! Texas boots Yanks in ALCS- by T.R. Sullivan TexasRangers.com: http://bit.ly/cfqw0V
Cody Ross rides three home runs to NLCS MVP honors- ESPN: http://es.pn/diO59E
Series matchup a study in underdogs- by Tom Singer TexasRangers.com: http://bit.ly/ccalKO
SF wins on Juan swing; Philly KO'd, looking- by Chris Haft SanFranciscoGiants.com: http://bit.ly/aABKDh
Rangers' resilience impresses Yanks- by Bill Ladson Yankees.com: http://bit.ly/blzvrO
Phillies' World Series hopes dashed by Giants- by Todd Zolecki Phillies.com: http://bit.ly/98hx2a
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