[Nick Soulis]

Series #200



1997 Montreal Expos
Record: 78-84
Finish: 4th in NL East
Manager: Felipe Alou
Ball park: Olympic Stadium
WAR Leader: Pedro Martinez (8.8)
Franchise Record: 3-3
1997 Season Record: 1-3
Hall of Famers: (2)
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MON/1997.shtml

2018 San Francisco Giants
Record: 73-89
Finish: 4th in NL West
Manager: Bruce Bochy
Ball park: ATT Park
WAR Leader: Buster Posey (3.0)
Franchise Record: 8-9
2018 Season Record: 3-1
Hall of Famers: (0)
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SFG/2018.shtml
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Lesson In Winning
Giants Experience Puts Expos In Place



Game 1
At Olympic Stadium
2018 San Francisco Giants 8
1997 Montreal Expos 2
WP: D. Rodriguez (1-0) LP: P. Martinez (0-1)
HR: B. Belt (1), B. Crawford (1)
POG: Derreck Rodriguez (8.1 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 115 p)
2018 Giants Lead Series 1-0

At Olympic Stadium in a surreal Field of Dreams matchup, the 2018 San Francisco Giants came out firing and never looked back, defeating the 1997 Montreal Expos 8–2 to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Giants starter Dereck Rodriguez dazzled both on the mound and at the plate, tossing 8.1 strong innings of two-run ball while delivering the game's biggest blow—a bases-clearing double in the sixth inning that broke it open and gave San Francisco a commanding 6–0 lead. Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford each went deep off Pedro Martinez, who struggled through 5.2 innings and gave up seven earned runs, including two long balls. The Expos tried to claw back with a two-run double by Shane Andrews in the seventh, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the damage. With 13 hits and crisp defense, the Giants dominated from start to finish, backing Rodriguez’s gem and setting the tone for the series in Montreal. Game 2 is set for tomorrow night, again under the closed roof of Olympic Stadium.

Game 2
At Olympic Stadium
2018 San Francisco Giants 10
1997 Montreal Expos 5
WP: D. Holland (1-0) LP: D. Hermanson (0-1)
HR: B. Posey (1), R. White (1)
POG: Buster Posey (3-5, HR, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R)
2018 Giants Lead Series 2-0

In the crisp October air under the closed roof of Olympic Stadium, the 2018 San Francisco Giants surged to a commanding 2-0 series lead in the Field of Dreams showdown, defeating the 1997 Montreal Expos 10-5 in Game 2. Catcher Buster Posey led the way with a thunderous 3-run homer in the fourth inning and added a double as part of a 3-for-5 performance, driving in three runs and scoring twice en route to Player of the Game honors. After falling behind 4-1, the Expos rallied in the third on a 3-run blast by Rondell White, but the Giants responded with relentless pressure, including a 4-run seventh inning highlighted by Brandon Belt’s 2-run double. Derek Holland fought through 6.2 gritty innings despite surrendering 10 hits and a homer, while the Giants’ bullpen slammed the door with 2.1 scoreless frames. The Expos outhit the Giants 13-12 but left nine men on base and couldn’t overcome shaky pitching from starter Dustin Hermanson and the Montreal bullpen. The series now shifts to San Francisco’s AT&T Park for Game 3 on Saturday, where the Expos must win to avoid the brink of elimination.

Game 3
At Olympic Stadium
1997 Montreal Expos 2
2018 San Francisco Giants 5
WP: T. Blach (1-0) LP: M. Valdes (0-1)
HR: D. Fletcher (1), S. Andrews (1)
POG: Ty Blach (7.1 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K)
2018 Giants Lead Series 3-0

On a crisp October evening under clear skies at AT&T Park, the 2018 San Francisco Giants edged closer to a series sweep, defeating the 1997 Montreal Expos 5-2 in Game 3 of their best-of-seven Field of Dreams showdown. Lefty Ty Blach was magnificent on the mound, tossing 7.1 innings of six-hit, one-run baseball to earn Player of the Game honors. Brandon Belt provided the offensive punch, delivering a two-run single in the opening frame and finishing with three RBIs on the night. Alen Hanson energized the middle innings with a triple and two runs scored, while Andrew McCutchen collected three hits. Despite solo home runs from Montreal’s Darrin Fletcher and Shane Andrews, the Expos couldn’t overcome San Francisco’s 12-hit barrage. The Giants now hold a commanding 3-0 series lead heading into Game 4, set for tomorrow night back in San Francisco, with the Expos facing elimination.

Game 4
At Olympic Stadium
1997 Montreal Expos 3
2018 San Francisco Giants 4
WP: W. Smith (1-0) LP: U. Urbina (0-1)
HR: G. Hernandez (1), B. Crawford (2)
POG: Madison Bumgarner (7 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 103 P)

The 2018 San Francisco Giants completed a stunning sweep of the 1997 Montreal Expos with a dramatic 4-3 walk-off win under the lights at AT&T Park, closing out the best-of-seven Field of Dreams series in four games. Powered by clutch hitting and timely pitching, the Giants once again proved their mettle in late innings. Gorkys Hernández opened the scoring with a solo homer in the 1st, but it was Brandon Crawford’s two-run blast in the 7th that tied the game and shifted momentum. Madison Bumgarner gritted through seven strong innings, giving up three runs while striking out six. After relievers Sam Dyson and Will Smith held the line, Alen Hanson—the eventual series MVP—came through in the 9th with a pinch-hit, walk-off RBI single to seal the win. Hanson batted .533 for the series, embodying the clutch presence that defined the Giants' run. Despite a valiant effort from David Segui, who had three hits and two RBIs for Montreal, the Expos couldn't withstand San Francisco’s relentless late-inning pressure. The Giants outscored the Expos 21-10 in the series, and as fireworks lit up the crisp October sky, a new chapter of championship glory was written in San Francisco baseball lore.

2018 San Francisco Giants Win Series 4 Games To 1

Series MVP:

(.417, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 5 R, 1 2B, .562 OBP, 1.312 OPS)