[jg2977]

Reds 3, Giants 1

Phil Rizzuto:
Holy cow! What a ballgame we had this afternoon out here in San Francisco! The Cincinnati Reds come into town needing a win, and whaddaya know — they take care of business, beating the San Francisco Giants 3–1 to even up this Wild Card Series.
Now lemme tell ya — the big story, Mad Dog, was the pitching. That fella Jim Russell for Cincinnati… hoo boy! Seven and two-thirds innings, only three hits! He had those Giants hitters waving the bats like they were swatting flies at a summer picnic!
Mad Dog (furious):
Phil, Phil, Phil, stop right there! This is a disaster! An absolute disaster for San Francisco! You're at home, the ballpark is packed — forty-three thousand people in the building — and you give the game away in the sixth inning!
You cannot lose playoff games like this! You just can't!
Rizzuto:
Well now hold on there, Mad Dog, it wasn’t all bad for the Giants. They tied the game in the fifth inning when David Fuentes lined a single and brought home Travis Campbell. That made it 1–1 and the crowd got pretty loud.
But then — hoo boy — the Reds came right back in the sixth.
Mad Dog:
RIGHT BACK?! Phil, they practically gift-wrapped it!
Rizzuto:
Heh heh… well, maybe a little bit.
First John Dale gets hit by a pitch, then Bo Celauro sneaks an infield single. Suddenly the Reds got two fellas on base and only one out.
Then up comes Javy Sanchez.
Holy cow!
He lines a double way out into the gap — two runs come home, just like that! Reds take the lead 3–1 and the Giants are in a pickle.
Mad Dog:
And that’s the game! That’s the whole game right there! One pitch, one swing, series flipped on its head! If you're J. J. Bachus, you cannot allow that hit!
You’re pitching fine! Seven innings, three runs! But one bad pitch in October — boom! You're down a game!
Rizzuto:
Now don’t forget the bullpen. After Russell left, Rick McCoy came in and shut the door for the save.
Giants made a little noise in the ninth — double by Fuentes put the tying run on base — but the Reds got the last out and that was that.
Mad Dog:
And now the Giants have a problem! A big problem! You had the series in your hands after Game 1 — now it’s a winner-take-all tomorrow!
You blow chances all game, you leave runners everywhere, and now you're playing for your season!
Rizzuto:
Well Mad Dog, that’s playoff baseball for ya!
So here we are — the Wild Card Series tied 1–1.
Tomorrow right here at Oracle Park, one game decides who moves on… and who goes home.
Holy cow, I can't wait! ⚾