Giants are World Champions! Follow along on this blog for postgame coverage and comment below.
That will do it for the live blog. Thanks for letting us provide you with updates throughout the World Series.
Wilson’s injury, Lincecum’s demise, Melky suspension; down 0-2 to the Reds, 3-1 to the Cards…what an amazing team effort by the Giants.
— Brandon Tierney (@BrandonTierney) October 29, 2012
Here’s a look at the craziness happening right now at the Civic Center in San Francisco: http://www.csnbayarea.com/live2?awid=4866086215815093574-766
People are not leaving SF City Hall, in fact, more are coming to party. #SFGiants
— Brodie Brazil (@brodiebrazilCSN) October 29, 2012
Sandoval presented with MVP Trophy and a cool new car.
Kinda weird that the players aren’t even paying attention as the commissioner presents the trophy to Larry Baer.
That’s what’s up…
So how does the decision to bench Melky sound now?
Number 1? Well, I don’t think I have to say it. But in case you have a VERY short-term memory, I’ll remind you of Scutaro’s clinching hit.
Number 2 is Posey’s bomb, giving SF the lead in the sixth.
Number 3 will be the ball that Pagan caught on the warning track, the one that died after traveling over 400 feet in the ninth.
3 plays of the game now.
Scene on the field
ROMO number 1, for striking out the side and finishing it off.
Cain is #2, for his solid pitching.
#3 is Scutaro, with the GW hit.
3 stars of the game now
Pablo has to be MVP.
Scutaro fighting back tears as he is interviewed on FOX
Pablo Sandoval is the World Series MVP.
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) October 29, 2012
How about Romo doing the Gangnam Style after ending the game?
It totally just did.
Romo strikes out the side, Theriot and Scutaro are new SF heroes, and the Giants have won the World Series!
The Giants sweep the Tigers in the World Series to take their second World Series in three years.
THAT DID NOT JUST HAPPEN!
And that’s it! Romo strikes out Cabrera looking, the Giants are World Champions!
Detroit down to their final strike
Swinging strike two…
Strike one…
Sorry – Tigers down to their last out, who is Miguel Cabrera.
But he’s evidently fine. Kelly strikes out swinging, Tigers down to their last strike.
Romo limping after that last pitch.
Don Kelly will pinch hit for Garcia. First AB of the postseason, wonder why they’re using him now?
Jackson down swinging. One out in the ninth.
Infante has a broken wrist – out for the rest of the series.
From one beard to another. In 2010 it was Brian Wilson; in 2012, it’s Sergio Romo’s turn.
Jackson, Garcia, and Cabrera to face Romo.
The San Francisco Civic Center ready to erupt…
Romo coming in for the final three outs.
Sandoval grounds out, but the Giants are now three outs away from winning the World Series.
The #SFGiants now 3 outs away from sweeping the World Series
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 29, 2012
Base hit by Scutaro, Theriot scores as the Giants take the lead! 4-3 in the tenth inning.
Benoit up in the Tigers’ pen. Tigers fighting for their lives.
Now Scutaro – the MVP of the NLCS. Chance to come through in the World Series. Go-ahead run at second.
And Pagan strikes out swinging, backswing hits catcher Laird in the head. He appears to be ok.
He’s 0 for his last 11.
Angel Pagan up in the biggest at bat of his life.
The last clinching World Series game decided in extra innings was 1997, when Edgar Renteria singled home Craig Counsell for the Marlins.
— Andrew Baggarly (@CSNBaggs) October 29, 2012
And he does. Winning run at second with one out.
Crawford will try to bunt him over.
Check that again. Theriot singles to right to lead off the inning. Crawford will come to the plate.
Check that – Joaquin Arias has come out on deck. He will hit for Crawford.
Coke remains in to pitch the tenth – Theriot, Crawford and Pagan at bat.
Extra innings! Laird grounds out to end the ninth.
Infante’s coming out with an injured hand, Danny Worth will pinch run for him.
Casilla hits Infante on the hand, that did not look or sound good.
Affeldt coming out, Santiago Casilla in to face Omar Infante.
That ball’s gone in San Francisco or any other ballpark, but he hit it into the worst possible spot. Giants catch a break.
Peralta hits a towering fly ball, Pagan twists back near the warning track to make the tough catch.
Dirks gone swinging. Make it four straight strikeouts for Affeldt.
Affeldt remains in the ballgame to pitch the ninth.
Last seven outs have all been strikeouts
— Ray Ratto (@RattoCSN) October 29, 2012
Dirks, Peralta and Infante in the bottom of the ninth.
Coke strikes out the side, dominating the Giants’ hitters.
And he finishes him off with a 95 mph fastball. Blew it right by him.
And he is throwing heat to Belt. All pitches in the mid-90s right now.
Coke has not allowed a run in the postseason.
Pence out looking, a nasty pitch on the inside corner froze him. One out.
Phil Coke now pitching for Detroit to face Pence, Belt and Blanco in the ninth.
Spot on, Mr. Ratto:
Affeldt is the unsung bad ass of the postseason.
— Ray Ratto (@RattoCSN) October 29, 2012
Affeldt strikes out Cabrera, Fielder, and Young to end the inning.
It appears as if Bochy is leaving him in to face Delmon Young, who homered earlier to tie the game.
And Affeldt promptly strikes him out as well. Two huge K’s.
Prince Fielder, batting .077 in this series. Now would be a good time for him to wake up.
Big strikeout for Affeldt – Cabrera down swinging. One away.
Ball four – Garcia walks to lead off the inning. Bruce Bochy turns away in disgust.
Lengthy at bat, full count.
Avasail Garcia pinch hits for Berry.
Posey whiffs to end the inning. Berry, Cabrera and Fielder to face Affeldt in the bottom of the eighth.
Probably the most intense action we’ve had all series’ long. Tied game, 3-3 in the eighth. Tigers fighting for their lives.
Affeldt warming up in Giants’ bullpen to pitch the eighth.
Sandoval lines out to Fielder, who doubles off Scutaro in no-man’s land. Two out, nobody on for Buster Posey.
Nope, looks like Leyland is leaving in Dotel to face Panda.
Four pitch walk to Scutaro to lead off the inning.
Phil Coke loosening in the Tigers’ bullpen, presumably to face Pablo Sandoval.
Scutaro, Sandoval and Posey to bat in the eighth against Octavio Dotel.
What’s Bochy going to do next?
And now our favorite part of the show, Guessing With Bochy, with your host You’re Going To Be Wrong
— Ray Ratto (@RattoCSN) October 29, 2012
After seven innings, Giants and Tigers knotted at 3-3.
And he strikes out Jackson to end the inning.
Cain ove 100 pitches
Jackson loses control of his bat, launches into the seats. Everybody’s fine.
Cain retires Infante and Laird to start the seventh. Bochy leaving him in to face Jackson.
Don’t understand why Bochy is leaving Cain in. Giants’ bullpen is more than rested, and Cain is struggling right now.
Cain going out for the seventh. He didn’t appear to have much left in the sixth.
— Andrew Baggarly (@CSNBaggs) October 29, 2012
I’m sorry, I respect all that serve for our country, but that rendition of God Bless America was painful to listen to.
7th inning stretch from Detroit. Tied 3-3.
Pagan yells at himself as he grounds out weakly to second.
Max Scherzer’s final line:
Crawford flies out to center, the lefty Dotel coming in to face Angel Pagan.
Crawford the batter, runner at second and one out.
Scherzer taken out of the game, rookie Drew Smyly the new pitcher for Detroit.
He moved to second on a Theriot groundout.
We’re now in the top of the seventh – Gregor Blanco led of inning with a single to right.
Delmon Young responded in the bottom half of the sixth with a homer to right to tie the game at 3-3.
We’re back, sorry for the delay. We’ll get you all caught up now.
Scherzer left a pitch inside, and Posey crushed it down the line. The Giants have the lead back, 3-2!
POSEY GOES DEEP!
Infield chopper, and he beat it out. Would’ve rolled foul, but Cabrera tried to and failed to get him out.
Scutaro singles.
Scutaro, Sandoval and Posey due up for the sixth against Scherzer, who is doing a great job right now. However, his elbow is a concern, so the bullpen will be up soon.
Crawford with a beautiful barehand pickup and throw on a ball deflected by Cain.
WOW!
Jackson flies out to Pence for the second out, and Berry, who is 0-for-7 in the series, steps to the plate.
73 pitches already. Bullpen might be forced to get up soon.
Cain throws three balls to Jackson.
What kind of bunt was that?
Belt catches a bunt attempt by Laird, and Jackson steps to the plate.
Max Scherzer is settling in and that’s not good new for @sfgiants. @tigers lead Game 4, 2-1, in 5th as they try to extend #WorldSeries.
— MLB (@MLB) October 29, 2012
Base hit for Omar Infante.
#Tigers Max Scherzer looking great, minor control lapse in 4th inning BUT wheels back on, 1-2-3 5th for Max…. Agent 99 he’s looking good!
— Dan Plesac (@Plesac19) October 29, 2012
Infante, Laird and Jackson due up for Detroit.
Pagan grounds out.
It’s a World Series game. Nobody can run out there and pick up a wrapper next to the mound?
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) October 29, 2012
Crawford pops up, and Pagan steps to the plate.
63 pitches so far.
Scherzer is looking very good.
Theriot strikes out to lead off the fifth, strikeout number six for Scherzer
1-2-3 inning for Cain, nice way to rebound after allowing the home run in the fourth.
Speaking of FOX, maybe they’ll get higher ratings if the Tigers extend the series. http://www.forbes.com/sites/waynemcdonnell/2012/10/27/disappointing-television-ratings-are-a-legitimate-concern-for-major-league-baseball/
Two quick outs while Verlander converses with the FOX broadcast booth.
Young, Dirks, Peralta in the bottom of the fourth.
Gotta tell ya, not exactly used to the Giants losing in the World Series.
Strike ‘em out, throw ‘em out double play ends the inning. Still 2-1 Tigers through four and a half innings.
Giants pen better be ready for extended work. Cain has very, very average stuff tonight…but battling, as always.
— Brandon Tierney (@BrandonTierney) October 29, 2012
Tigers lead 2-1 after three innings in Detroit.
There’s the wind playing a factor. It just kept carrying out.
Cabrera homers.
Cabrera is struggling, but he’s still VERY dangerous. Takes a ball and a strike.
BEAUTIFUL play by Belt, avoiding Quintin Berry’s leg and making the play. Two out now.
Jackson steals on a hit-and-run. It’s a bunt, and a great pick by Belt saves an error. Runner on second, two out for…Miguel Cabrera.
Questionable call on that 3-2 pitch. Jackson walks.
TIm Kawakami is summing up Cain’s outing.
Familiar playoff story: Cain doesn’t have his sharpest stuff, but he’s grinding through it. Could use some more runs, though.
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) October 29, 2012
Cain is starting to look sharp now. 37 pitches so far.
Laird hustles, but he got jammed and couldn’t beat out that ground ball. Scutaro throws him out for the first out.
And he falls behind 0-2.
Light rain falling in Detroit. Should continue throughout the night.
Laird is only in because Avila’s arm is sore.
One more hit will tie Pablo Sandoval for the record for hits in a postseason. At 24 now.
Laird, Jackson and Berry due up.
Posey flies out.
Sandoval laces a single into right field, and Buster Posey comes up with runners on the corner. Unfortunately, Posey looks completely lost.
Here’s a brief summary of the action:
The Giants strike first with a @hunterpence double and a triple by Brandon Belt. After 2, the @sfgiants lead 1-0 #WorldSeries
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) October 29, 2012
Scutaro with a lazy lineout to Jackson. Sandoval, who boasts a .534 series average, is up at the plate.
Scutaro at the plate.
Here’s a good point:
Andy Dirks keeping the Tigers in this game with two nice running catches. Remember, Tigers were awful this year at turning BIP into outs
— SI MLB (@si_mlb) October 29, 2012
Dirks makes a nice running catch in a VERY deep part of the park. Not a home run in SF, but hit very well.
Pagan with a deep flyout.
Umm…
Crawford is clearly cheating
— Ray Ratto (@RattoCSN) October 29, 2012
Lefties hit .291 off of Scherzer this year, but righties hit just .201.
He was jammed, but he hustled. Looks like he barely beat the throw, so it was a good call. Pagan up.
Crawford beats out a ground ball. CLOSE call.
Max Scherzer with a nasty 1-0 pitch. Giants may regret only scoring 1 off of him in the second, but they’ll take a lead any time.
Crawford up. Pagan and Scutaro next.
Brandon Crawford shown protesting in 1992 to keep the Giants in SF. Good thing they did…
Giants Nirvana knows Brandon Crawford:
Man, Brandon Crawford makes some plays look so easy at shortstop. Such a great defender.
— Giants Nirvana (@GiantsNirvana) October 29, 2012
Cain’s pitch count is:
31 pitches through 2 innings for Cain.
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) October 29, 2012
Zachary D. Rymer was right. Cain made his pitches, and he’s looking sharp through two.
Crawford makes a nice play to retire Omar Infante on a ground ball. Inning over.
Peralta pops up to Crawford.
Detroit’s offense has been very cold.
The Tigers have a baserunner. He will not score.
— Zachary D. Rymer (@zachrymer) October 29, 2012
Dirks hits a high fastball right to Pagan for the first out.
1-2 delivery from Cain, and it was hit well. Breaking ball didn’t break enough.
Delmon Young with a single.
Delmon Young leads off with a single back up the middle.
Giants can set a postseason record for most consecutive innings without trailing after the second.
Do the Giants score in every half inning after Fielder strikes out or am I just imagining that?
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) October 29, 2012
Young, Dirks and Peralta due up for the Tigers in bottom second. 1-0 Giants.
Theriot hits one well, but caught by Dirks in right.
First time in his career that Theriot is DH-ing.
Blanco grounds out, two out with Theriot coming up, runner at third.
Crowd looks stunned in Detroit at the moment.
Infield plays in for Blanco, last night’s hero.
On two pitches, SF takes the lead. How about that.
Doesn’t matter now – Belt rips one into the right field corner for an RBI triple as Pence scores. 1-0 Giants.
Pence hits a ground rule double to deep left center. Lucky break for Tigers – would have been a triple if it stayed in the park.
Posey baffled by that slider from Scherzer as he strikes out looking to start the second.
Observation from the bottom of the first: Cain needs to go after Cabrera and Fielder. He was a bit reluctant to Cabrera, but went after Fielder. They are struggling, and he can’t boost their confidence by giving up free passess.
Posey, Pence and Belt due up in the second inning. No score thus far.
And Cain strikes out Fielder on a high fastball to end the inning. Prince hearing some boos from Tiger faithful.
Cabrera thoroughly baffled by concept of the ball-strike conundrum
— Ray Ratto (@RattoCSN) October 29, 2012
Cabrera takes a walk on five pitches.
11 pitch at bat by Berry, grounds out weekly to second. Two out for the struggling Miguel Cabrera.
Berry lines one just foul by four inches, deep in the right field corner.
Don’t know much about Quintin Berry, but he was horrendous last night in Game 3.
Cain is 2-2 with a 3.52 ERA in the postseason. He pitched well in Game 7 of the NLCS vs. Cardinals.
Scherzer worked fast and threw strikes in that inning–10 pitches, 8 strikes.
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) October 29, 2012
Tigers due up in the bottom of the first – Jackson, Berry and Cabrera against Matt Cain.
And a dominating first inning for Scherzer, striking out Pagan and Sandoval.
Scherzer is 1-0 with a 0.82 ERA in the postseason, and had 10 strikeouts in his last start vs. the Yankees in the ALCS.
Max Scherzer deals a first pitch strike, we are under way in Detroit.
44 degrees right now in Detroit. Feel cold just thinking about it.
And for Detroit:
1. Austin Jackson (R) CF
2. Quintin Berry (L) LF
3. Miguel Cabrera (R) 3B
4. Prince Fielder (L) 1B
5. Delmon Young (R) DH
6. Andy Dirks (L) RF
7. Jhonny Peralta (R) SS
8. Omar Infante (R) 2B
9. Gerald Laird (R) C
Here is the Giants’ lineup for Game 4
1. Angel Pagan (S) CF
2. Marco Scutaro (R) 2B
3. Pablo Sandoval (S) 3B
4. Buster Posey (R) C
5. Hunter Pence (R) RF
6. Brandon Belt (L) 1B
7. Gregor Blanco (L) LF
8. Ryan Theriot (R) DH
9. Brandon Crawford (L) SS
First pitch in seventeen minutes – Giants can win the World Series with a sweep tonight!
Jake Dal Porto is a student from the Bay Area. He has followed Bay Area sports for years, and enjoys writing about the various Bay Area teams. He is an assistant editor at Golden Gate Sports, and the editor of Blue Man Hoop. If you need to contact Jake, email him: 
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