[Nick Soulis]

Series #158



2011 Oakland Athletics
Record: 74-88
Finish: 3rd in AL West
Manager: Bob Geren
Ball Park: Oakland Coliseum
WAR Leader: Gio Gonzalez (4.4)
Franchise Record: 5-14
2011 Record: 1-4
Hall of Famers: (0)
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/OAK/2011.shtml

1956 New York Giants
Record: 67-87
Finish: 6th in NL
Manager: Bill Rigney
WAR Leader: Willie Mays (7.6)
Franchise Record: 5-5
1956 Record: 1-1
Hall of Famers: (3)
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYG/1956.shtml
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Giants Roll Over For Athletics
Oakland Takes 2 In Extras For Four Game Sweep



Game 1
At Oakland Coliseum
1956 New York Giants 1
2011 Oakland Athletics 2
WP: A. Bailey (1-0) LP: H. Wilhelm (0-1)
HR: None
POG: Brandon McCarthy (8 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K)
2011 Athletics Lead Series 1-0

In a thrilling opener to the Field of Dreams best-of-seven series, the 2011 Oakland Athletics edged the 1956 New York Giants, 2-1, in walk-off fashion at O.co Coliseum. Oakland starter Brandon McCarthy was superb, tossing eight innings of one-run ball while scattering four hits, but it was Hideki Matsui who stole the show in the bottom of the ninth. With the game tied and two runners aboard, Matsui lined a clutch single off Hoyt Wilhelm to drive in the winning run, sending the 50,334 fans into a frenzy. The Giants' Johnny Antonelli was stellar through eight shutout innings but received no run support after Willie Mays’ RBI single in the first inning. The Athletics' bullpen, led by Andrew Bailey in the ninth, secured the victory as Oakland took a 1-0 series lead on a chilly, partly cloudy October evening.

Game 2
At Oakland Coliseum
1956 New York Giants 1
2011 Oakland Athletics 4
WP: G. Gonzalez (1-0) LP: W. McCall (0-1) S: A. Bailey (1)
HR: None
POG: Gio Gonzalez (8 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 99 P)
2011 Athletics Lead Series 2-0

Under the clear skies of a cool October evening at the Field of Dreams, the 2011 Oakland Athletics clinched a 4-1 victory over the 1956 New York Giants to seize a commanding 2-0 series lead. Gio Gonzalez was brilliant on the mound, spinning eight innings of one-run ball with seven strikeouts, earning Player of the Game honors. Oakland struck early with two runs in the first, highlighted by Josh Willingham’s clutch double. Though Willie Mays provided a spark for the Giants with a two-out RBI double in the sixth, Oakland’s bullpen, anchored by Andrew Bailey, shut the door. Willingham’s second double in the eighth added insurance as the A’s capitalized on timely hitting and flawless defense before a crowd of 51,463. The series now shifts to New York, where the Giants will look to avoid falling into a deeper hole.

Game 3
At Polo Grounds
2011 Oakland Athletics 6
1956 New York Giants 5 (10 inn)
WP: B. Fuentes (1-0) LP: H. Wilhelm (0-2)
HR: D. Dejesus (1), H. Matsui (1)
POG: Trevor Cahill (7 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 97 P)
2011 Athletics Lead Series 3-0

The 2011 Oakland Athletics edged the 1956 New York Giants in a thrilling 6-5 extra-inning victory at the Polo Grounds, taking a commanding 3-0 lead in the Field of Dreams best-of-seven series. Trevor Cahill delivered a stellar performance on the mound, tossing seven innings of two-run ball, and Daric Barton sealed the victory with a clutch RBI double in the top of the 10th inning. Oakland's offense was bolstered by David DeJesus' solo homer in the eighth and Hideki Matsui's dramatic two-run blast in the ninth to force extras. Despite a spirited four-run rally by the Giants in the eighth, their efforts fell short as Brian Fuentes shut the door in the final frames. The clear skies and historic setting added to the magic of the night, witnessed by 58,919 fans, as the Athletics moved within one game of sweeping the series.

Game 4
At Polo Grounds
2011 Oakland Athletics 1
1956 New York Giants 0 (10 inn)
WP: A. Bailey (2-0) LP: R. Monzant (0-1)
HR: R. Sweeney (1)
POG: Tyson Ross (6 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 94 P)

In a tense Game 4 at the historic Polo Grounds, the 2011 Oakland Athletics completed a stunning sweep of the 1956 New York Giants with a dramatic 1-0 extra-innings victory in the Field of Dreams Series. Tyson Ross, named Player of the Game, pitched six brilliant innings, allowing just two hits and striking out three, while the bullpen trio of Craig Breslow, Grant Balfour, and Andrew Bailey held the Giants scoreless the rest of the way. The game remained a scoreless stalemate until the top of the 10th inning when Ryan Sweeney delivered a two-out solo home run off New York’s Ramón Monzant, electrifying the crowd of 50,186. Despite strong pitching from Al Worthington and the Giants' staff, the offense couldn’t solve Oakland’s hurlers, managing just four hits and stranding key runners. With the win, the Athletics clinched their Field of Dreams Series , celebrating on a chilly, windy night that epitomized postseason baseball’s intensity.

2011 Oakland Athletics Win Series 4 Games To 0

Series MVP:

(6/9, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 2B, 3 R, 1 K, .700 OBP)