PRELIMINARY ROUND
Series #14
1966 San Francisco Giants (93-68) vs 2010 Detroit Tigers (81-81)
Another of the all time greats ready to make his debut as the one and only Willie Mays appears with his 1966 Giants. The Giants of this era were great but just couldnt get over the hump losing in this particular season by only 1.5 games. Mays is joined by some true stars of the game as Willie McCovey joins Mays in the lineup and Juan Marichal teamed with Gaylord Perry lead the rotation. Other less known contributors like Jimmy Ray Hart who hit 33 home runs and catcher Tom Haller who could swing the bat with the best of them. This Giants team just really needs to get over the hump and most of the weight will fall on their star, the Say Hey Kid, who is still at the top of his game.
The 2010 Tigers and Jim Leyland are going through a very good era of baseball with some surefire future Hall of Famers. Miguel Cabrera is in his prime leading the league in OBP with .420 while hitting 38 home runs and a .328 average. Veterans Magglio Ordonez and Johnny Damon are two clutch players that no one would be surprised at if they came through in a series like this. As for the rotation, how does Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer sound combining for close to 400 strikeouts. The Tigers pen is somewhat of a worry with Joel Zumaya and even Dontrelle Willis trying to find a role. Anyway you slice it, this series is filled with stars and personality. Some think the Tigers do have the talent to do more then scare the favored Giants.
Game 1 At Candlestick Park
Clear Wind blowing out to left 12mph
1966 Giants.................2
2010 Tigers..................1
WP: G. Perry LP: J. Verlander
HR: W. McCovey
The opening game of the series was exactly what we expected as Gaylord Perry and Justin Verlander battled in a low scoring tight game. Stretch Willie McCovey hit a two run home run in the bottom of the first inning. The blow erased a Magglio Ordonez run scoring triple in the top frame of the inning and neither club would scratch a run for the rest of the afternoon. Willie Mays went 0-4 with a strikeout and could not figure out Verlander but the Giants get the win. Perry struck out 11.
Game 2 At Candlestick Park
Clear Wind blowing left to right 11mph
1966 Giants..................1
2010 Tigers...................2
WP: M. Scherzer LP: J. Marichal
HR: J. Davenport
Taking the script from game one, the Tigers flipped the identical score this time to tie the series. Matt Scherzer showed his laser focus in this one going seven innings and allowing only one run. Juan Marichal struck out nine on the other side but two RBI singles in the third inning, one by Ordonez and one by Cabrera proved to be the difference. Willie Mays went 4-4 in the loss but did make an unsightly error in center field.
Game 3 At Comerica Park
Clear Wind blowing i from right 10mph
2010 Tigers...................10
1966 Giants....................9
WP: P. Coke LP: B. Priddy
HR: M. Ordonez, B. Inge
The bats broke out at the most unlikely of places for game three and the Tigers hang on for a crucial 10-9 win. Detroit was down early in this one 6-1 before they turned things completely around and culminating in a game winning hit by Johhny Damon in the 7th. Austin Jackson went 4-5 with 3 runs while Magglio Ordonez with a bomb as did Brandon Inge. There were 37 hits in this game and the Giants are best to put this one behind them quickly as the momentum now lies with the Tigers.
Game 4 At Comerica Park
Clear Wind blowing right to left 11mph
2010 Tigers...............11
1966 Giants...............4
WP: D. Willis LP: B. Bolin
HR: R. Raburn 2, M. Cabrera
The Tigers have taken control of this series and do so with another big offensive day of 11 runs and 16 hits. Ryan Raburn hit two home runs and Miggy Cabrera put his stamp on a 3 RBI game as Dontrelle Willis got all the support he needed in the complete game win. Willie Mays was walked four times and came around to score twice but the Giant bats were nowhere near as load as their opponents. The Tigers look for the series upset behin Verlander in game 5.
Game 5 at Comerica Park
2010 Tigers..................6
1966 Giants.................8
WP: G. Perry LP: J. Verlander
HR: None
Batting lead off, Orlando Cepeda lead the charge going 4-5 and helping his stay alive for another day. The Tigers had 17 hits in this one but did not do enough damage in the end as both Justine Verlander and Gaylord Perry did not have much in this game. The Giants scored six times in the 3rd inning aided by some shotty defense by the home team. Miguel Cabrera is living up to the billing in this series also going 4-5 as he and Mays continue to shine.
Game 6 At Candlestick Park
partly cloudy wind blowing out to centrer 19mph
1966 Giants..................4
2010 Tigers...................3
WP: J. Marichal LP: M. Scherzer
HR: T. Haller, R. Raburn
In a tight must win game, Tim Haller hit a three run home run off Matt Scherzer to break a scoreless game open in the 5th. The Giants leaned on Juan Marichal who struck out nine but the ace did run into trouble in the 6th when Ryan Raburn went deep to cut the lead to one. The Giants bore down until Lindy McDanial got out of a jam in the 8th and held on for his third save of the series. In what has become a great series, it will come down to game seven.
Game 6 At Candlestick Park
Clear Wind blowing out to center 10mph
1968 Giants....................6
2010 Tigers.....................2
WP: B. Shaw LP: J. Bonderman
HR: W. Rhymes, J. Davenport
The 1966 Giants showed true resolve coming all the way back in this series down 3 games to 1 to take it from underneath the Tigers. Starter Bob Shaw gave his side a solid 8 innings in the dramatic seventh game no hitting the Tigers for five innings. The Giants broke out early with single runs in the first 3 innings inclding another home run by Tim Haller. Jim Davenport went 3-4 and Willie Mays drove in a run ending his impressive series hitting .471. Quite a good series.
1966 San Francisco Giants win 4 games to 3
Series MVP
Lindy McDaniel
(3 saves, 6 IP, 0 ER, 1 K, 1.00 WHIP)