Giants Looking to Rebound, Establish Dynasty in Game 7

Despite a Game 6 blowout, the Giants are “all-in” to establish their dynasty in the seventh and final game of the World Series tonight.

San Francisco is in a familiar, yet unfamiliar spot this decade: an elimination game in the World Series. In the past two Fall Classics, the Giants lost just one game, that loss coming in Game 3 of the 2010 World Series against Texas.

The last time the Giants went seven games in the World Series, Dusty Baker was the manager, J.T. Snow pulled Baker’s kid away from home plate and San Francisco found themselves in the middle of one heck of a collapse. Just ask Russ Ortiz, who pitched a shutout in Game 6 of the 2002 World Series and was pulled, which, in turn, sparked the Angels improbable comeback.

The Giants lost Game 6 then and lost Game 6 Tuesday night in a very different fashion.

The Royals blew the Giants out 10-0 to force Game 7, marking the second biggest blowout in World Series history. The first biggest you ask? The 1985 Royals beat the St. Louis Cardinals 11-0 in Game 6 of the 1985 World Series. Kansas City went on to win the World Series in seven games then, and could very well let history repeat itself Wednesday night.

That is, unless the Giants make history of their own.

The Giants will send out Tim Hudson for Game 7, who will be the oldest pitcher to start a World Series Game 7 in baseball history.

“This is why you play the game,” Hudson said. “This is why you compete. This is why you work so hard throughout your career, to get this opportunity. I’m going to have some fun. I’ve waited a long time for this. I feel very calm about the task at hand, but I know it’s going to be challenging.”

Hudson took the loss in Game 3 in San Francisco, allowing three runs in 5 2/3 innings as the Giants lost 3-2 to go down 2-1 in the Series at the time.

Oct 24, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Tim Hudson throws a pitch against the Kansas City Royals in the first inning during game three of the 2014 World Series at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

“Huddy is our starter, and we have all the confidence in him,” said manager Bruce Bochy. “It’s going to be up to us to score some runs.”

If the Giants are going to take their spot in history as being just the second team in recent history since the Yankees of the late 90’s to win at least three World Series in a five year span and the first National League team to do so since the Cardinals of the 1940’s, they’re not just going to have to score, they’re going to have to hit.

San Francisco was 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position Tuesday night and stranded 10 runners.

It’s not just the Giants bats and pitching that have to wake up for Game 7, San Francisco will need a little bit of luck.

The last time a visiting team won a Game 7 on the road was in 1979 and since 1982, teams that played Games 6 and 7 at home are 23-3. San Francisco needs to hope that this Game 6 doesn’t result in a similar Game 7 like it did 12 years ago.

But this is a more experienced roster than that Giants team in 2002. There are no big stars on this team (more like rising stars) and the Giants can still send out Madison Bumgarner who has been lights out throughout this postseason should Hudson not be able to get the job done on the mound.

The Giants bats need to be smart and consistent while Hudson just has to keep the Royals from running around the bases… often, if not at all.

Otherwise, the team that was supposed to be dynasty will become the team that choked at a chance at history.

At least this time there’s no monkey.

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