Giants Win Game 2 Shutout of Rangers – 9 to 0!!!

Yesterday was the pitching duel that wasn’t.  Tonight was the pitching duel we expected yesterday – until the dam burst.  And then it wasn’t!!
Giants Win Game 2 In 9 – 0 Shutout of Rangers!!
The game was decided in the 5th inning.  A sure-thing, Ranger home run hit the top of the outfield fence and bounced back into the field of play.  It was caught on the rebound and the runner was held at second base with a double.  This is what is commonly referred to as an “Act of God“.  When something this unusual happens, it almost always means the Baseball gods are smiling on the “lucky” team – that day if not for the series.  I was feelin’ the ORANGE and Rally Dog was shakin’.
In the bottom of the 5th, a solo HR by the Giants Renteria broke the goose-eggs.  It remained a close 1 to 0 game with an “anything can happen” feel until Uribe got a double in the 7th to add insurance.  It seemed then as if 2 runs would be enough to end the game and all the Giants had to do was hang on.
Instead of a defensive closer, Giant fans were treated to a Texas Nightmare / California Dream.  C.J. Wilson, (the Ranger starting pitcher), burst the blister on his throwing hand and was reduced to physically only being able to throw a curve ball without pain.  The Rangers began substituting pitchers.  With two outs in the bottom of the eight inning, the Giant’s got 7 runs.  Three of them were forced runs on bases loaded walks.  “Fear the Beard” Brian Wilson is sent back to the bench and Guillermo Mota finishes the game.  Shutout!!
What did we learn?  The Giants are hot!!  The Rangers – particularly the pitchers seem to be on a stage too high.  They are matching up well – which tells me it won’t be a sweep, but they are not getting very many breaks.  After all, how many times does a HR lip off a fence and fall back into play?  So far, the Giants 1st and 2nd pitcher are better than the Rangers 1st and 2nd.  The Cain vs Wilson match-up, in particular, seems to favor SF.  This means if the Series goes to 6 or 7 games, the Giants will have a big edge.  The collapse of the Ranger bullpen in the 8th is particularly troubling for any Texas fans.  The Series now goes to Texas where the Rangers should get a bit of rejuvenation.  It’s hard to imagine them winning three in a row, though.  That means they’ll have to come back to AT&T and win both games to win the series.  While nothing is impossible – again, it seems very unlikely at this point.
At the moment, the Giants need to win 2 games out of the remaining 5 to win the Series.  They only need to play 400 ball.  The Rangers, on the other hand, need to win 4 out of the remaining 5 games to take the Series.  What are the odds of the Rangers playing 800 ball to win the Series?  My revised prediction – it’s looking more like a 4-1 Giants Series than a 4-2 Series.  Fingers crossed!!!
Go Giants!!!  I AM ORANGE INSIDE!!!
PS:  I’ve decided to call Rally Dog “Bingo” from now on.  Only a nerd baseball fan will know why.
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On This Day In:
2021	Why We Have So Few Personal Favorites
	I Would Have Liked You Anyway
2020	Why We Must Vote #45 Out
	If You Believe
2019	Sometimes I Still Have Trouble Sleeping
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2018	And Flights Of Fancy
	Dodgers Lose 2nd Consecutive World Series!!
2017	By Their Acts Thy Shall Know Them
2016	Remembering
2015	One
2014	Sure Experiments And Demonstrated Arguments
2013	Irrational Complacency
2012	Why Criticize?
	Giants Sweep 2012 World Series With Game 4 Win (4 To 3)!!!
2011	Saying Just Enough
2010	Giants Win Game 2 Shutout of Rangers – 9 to 0!!!

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