Semifinals: Giants (87) defeat Giants (09) in six games

Game One: 09 Giants 4, 87 Giants 0
WP: Lincecum (7-0)
LP: Reuschel (7-2)

Game Two: 87 Giants 3, 09 Giants 1
WP: Lefferts (1-0)
LP: Affeldt (0-1)
Save: D Robinson (4)
HR: Renteria (1), C Davis (8)

Game Three: 87 Giants 4, 09 Giants 0
WP: Hammaker (1-1)
LP: Zito (3-2)
HR: Thompson (3)

Game Four: 87 Giants 5, 09 Giants 2
WP: Garrelts (3-0)
LP: Medders (4-1)
Save: Lefferts (3)
HR: Brenly 2), Maldonado (1), 

Game Five: 09 Giants 7. 87 Giants 4
WP: Howry (1-0)
LP: Reuschel (7-3)
Save: B Wilson (11)
HR: F Sanchez (4), W Clark 2 (8)

Game Six: 87 Giants 3, 09 Giants 0
WP: Dravecky (4-1)
LP: Cain (2-3)
Save: D Robinson (5)
HR: Aldrete (2)

In a big matchup of Giants, the 1987 edition got some huge work from its bullpen and left-handed starters -- a total of 33 innings with one run allowed.

But it was the 09 version that opened with shutout pitching. Tim Lincecum, working in 1987's Candlestick Park, didn't allow a hit until the fifth inning and just three in his complete game. He walked one and struck out 13, getting six of the final seven outs on whiffs. His teammates scored once in the third, once in the fourth and twice in the fifth off Rick Rueschel. Aaron Rowand was 3-for-4 with a run, an RBI and a stolen base.

The 09 Giants' Edgar Renteria homered off Dave Dravecky in the second inning of Game Two, and Matt Cain held the 1-0 lead into the seventh, when Chili Davis hit a solo shot of his own. The 87 club pieced together a two-run eighth on three hits and two walks: single by Kevin Mitchell, double by Mike Aldrete, walks for Bob Brenly and Eddie Milner, single by Jose Uribe. Dravecky got a no-decision despite allowing just four hits in seven innings.

The even series moved to 09's AT&T Park, where Atlee Hammaker and Barry Zito dueled with six scoreless frames apiece in Game Three. Zito loaded the bases with two outs in the first but escaped when Brenly's long fly was caught by Eugenio Velez; Zito allowed just two baserunners in the next five innings. Meanwhile, Hammaker sailed along, getting a key double-play grounder from Pedro Sandoval to elude a sixth-inning jam. Two errors helped build the 1987 team's four-run seventh, which was capped by Rob Thompson's three-run homer. One of the runs was earned. Hammaker was hit for in that inning, and Mike LaCoss and Scott Garrelts finished.

The 09 Giants took a quick lead in Game Four: Leadoff hitter Fred Lewis doubled and scored on Freddy Sanchez's single. Jonathan Sanchez held the 1-0 lead into the fifth, when Brenly homered. Travis Ishikuma homered in the sixth for a 2-1 lead, but Candy Maldonado retaliated with another solo shot to re-tie it. The 09 Giants turned to good-luck charm middle man Brandon Medders, who had collected wins in each of the first four rounds, but it didn't work this time. With one out in the ninth, Maldonado walked. Brenly singled, and Jeff Leonard singled for the lead. One out and a passed ball later, Harry Spilman singled in two runs to salt the game away.

The 87 Giants appeared intent on claiming the series in Game Five. Will Clark homered off the undefeated Lincecum in the first and second innings as the 87 squad staked Reuschel to a 4-0 lead. But that was all the 09 Giants yielded; Lincecum steadied for three shutout frames before leaving for a pinch hitter as the 09ers tied it with a four-run fifth; five singles were joined by a Thompson error.
Reuschel maintained the tie into the seventh, when he got the first two outs. Then pinch hitter Eli Whiteside and Velez singled and Freddy Sanchez homered. Bob Howry, Affeldt and Brian Wilson combined for five innings of scoreless relief for the 09 team.

The series returned to Candlestick for Game Six, and Dravecky and the bullpen put it away for the home team. The southpaw worked out of jams in the first and second innings, and Mike Aldrete gave him a 1-0 lead with a fourth-inning homer. The 87 team picked up another run in the sixth; Clark walked, Kevin Mitchell doubled and Brenly singled Clark home. Dravecky got into a bases-loaded, two-out jam in the seventh, but Garrelts entered to retire Freddy Sanchez to get out of it. The 87 Giants plated a third run in the eighth, and Garrelts and Don Robinson littered the bases with stranded baserunners in the final two frames in securing the shutout win.

Player of the series: Dravecky allowed eight hits and one run in 13.3 innings in two starts.

Player availability: Dravecky cannot pitch until Game Three. All other starters are eligible to work immediately.

Projected rotation: Reuschel-Kelly Downs-Dravecky-Mike LaCoss-(Reuschel)-(Downs)-(Dravecky)