Thank you Connor Gillespie, Madison Bumgarner and the rest of the San Francisco Giants. You did it again. Proving once more that it is doesn't really matter how you get there, but what you do once you arrive at the Playoff Dance. As the team, "Made for October" lands in Chicago, there isn't a baseball fan who doesn't respect and admire what this group of players has accomplished. The 2016 squad is quite different than the ones who collected World Series rings in 2010, 2012 and 2014. However, the way in which they play when it truly counts is hauntingly familiar. Manager Bruce Bochy will be the first to tell you this even year season "wan't easy." From having the League's best record in the first half to close to a League worst record in the second half, except for the last week when it counted the most and his team rose to the challenge finishing 5-1.
Through good and bad, there was no doubt that when push came to shove, this group would find a way to win. Giants torture turned into #BELIEVEN. On Wednesday night at Citi Field in New York, with a stadium covered in Mets Blue and Orange, the Orange and Black from the City by the Bay, led by their ace Bumgarner refused to blink. Yes, the home team sent their equally intimidating Noah "Thor" Syndergaard to the mound, and he shut down the visitors, no arguing that point. He carried a no-hitter into the 6th inning and allowed just two hits in seven innings while striking out 10. But with his pitch count elevated, he was pulled in the 8th inning. The Giants knew they could outlast their opposing superhero. Going into the scoreless 9th inning, the Giants faced another ace, closer Jeurys Famila. No worries, Brandon Crawford, not the top of the order, lead off the final inning with a double. A chess match ensued with Bochy asking Angel Pagan to bunt hoping to get Crawford to third. The NY native center fielder struck out. Then Joe Panik who has been having a tough year due to nagging injuries works Familia for a walk. As Gillespie stepped into the batter's box with one out, Jarrett Parker was on deck to bat for Bumgarner. Of course this move had all of us watching in San Francisco screaming, "Noooooooooooo" out loud. A group of die-hard fans, young and old assembled at Rogue/ Nick's Crispy Tacos on Polk and Broadway stood watching anxiously. Gillespie is not a household name, but I've watched him carefully since taking over when third baseman All-Star Eduardo Nunez got hurt September 25. He has a calm aura around him. Gillespie is described as "a hard worker" who is much admired by his teammates for his demeanor and work ethic. The Nebraska native was brought back on a minor league contract in February, his third go around with the Giants who drafted him with the 37th pick in 2008. He was having a rough night striking out twice, but he wasn't alone and his teammates reassured him each time he returned to the dugout. Now the third baseman was facing Familia. Gillespie met a 96 mph fastball and lined it out of the park to score Crawford, Panik and pumping his fists crossing home plate to a hero's welcome from his ecstatic teammates. Every one of them congratulating yet another unsung hero who comes up with the big hit and reminds us all how every member of a team is essential to create memorable playoff magic.
"I'm just so honored and happy right now," said Gillespie after the game. "You work so hard for this chance. It's not that I don't think I can do something like that, but how often does it actually happen?" If you're a Giant, it's been happening every even year since 2010. Memories of Travis Ishikawa, Cody Ross, Marco Scutero, Aubrey Huff and Michael Morse flood our memory bank as our Giants prepare to face the Cubs. Of course, none of it is possible without the other man of the hour: Our Mr October himself, Bumgarner. The record books will tell his story well after our kids have grandkids. He is one of a kind. Systematically becoming one of the best post season pitchers ever. A work horse with ice in his veins, calm and collected, no matter what's at stake; the inning, or who who he is facing. His post-season shutout streak is now 23 innings. The Giants improved to 9-0 in elimination games with #40 on the mound.
"It's hard to have any more confidence than what we have in Bum, especially in a game like this," Bochy said. "Bum just did his thing."
Oh yes, the three World Series Champion stayed in the game after the Gillespie 3-run homer and finished the shut out with a celebratory hug from his favorite catcher, All-Star Buster Posey. Then the rest of the Giants joined in the celebration. 11 victories away from another even year World Series Championship and Parade down the streets of San Francisco.
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