By: Tyler Ward
Tim Lincecum vs. Roy Halladay. Could it get any better? In perhaps the most ideal pitching matchup of the postseason, Lincecum outdueled Halladay and led the Giants to a 4-3 win over the defending National League champions.
The stat line for the pitchers:
- Lincecum (W, 1-0): 7 IP, 6 hits, 3 ER, 3 BB, 8 K's
- Halladay (L, 0-1): 7 IP, 8 hits, 4 ER, 0 BB, 7 K's
Although they weren't "great" pitching performances, it still turned out to be an exciting game. Both pitchers were coming off spectacular games and it was doubtful that they would repeat those performances - Lincecum last threw a complete game two-hitter against the Braves, while Halladay threw a no-hitter in his first postseason game ever against the Reds. However, Lincecum got the best of Halladay and got the outs when the Giants needed them and they held on to win Game 1.
Lincecum said of his Game 1 victory, "It was big, it sets the pace for the series."
Cody Ross, perhaps the MVP of the game, was able to hit two home runs off of the un-hittable Roy Halladay. Halladay pitched a perfect first two innings, but surrendered a solo home run to Ross in the third inning, thus leading to sub-par performance. The Phillies would then answer in the bottom of the inning, when catcher Carlos Ruiz hit a solo shot to tie the game, 1-1. However, Ross came up to bat again in the fifth inning and hit another solo home run to extend the Giants' lead to 2-1. The Giants would not look back and would hold the lead for the rest of the game.
Ex-Phillie Pat Burrell doubled in the sixth inning and scored rookie Buster Posey. Later in the inning, Juan Uribe singled to center and scored Nate Schierholtz on the play - Uribe was thrown out at second while trying to extend the single. Entering the bottom of the sixth inning, the Giants were up 4-1.
In the bottom of the inning, Jayson Werth, who was subject to trade talks during the regular season, blasted a two-run shot, scoring Chase Utley. The home run cut the lead to one, but the Phillies would not be able to capitalize.
The Giants' All-Star closer, Brian Wilson, came into the game with two outs in the eighth inning and got the four-out save.
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said after the game, "I don't think we can do nothing to bring this game back tonight. It's a loss. So we come out tomorrow, and we come out and play in that moment, try to win that game. That's what we've got to do."
Cody Ross, who hit two home runs in the game, also stated after the game, "It's just awesome to be in this situation right now, to be able to come here and help this team where it wanted to be." Ross is considered by some to be a rival of the Phillies, so it was even more exciting for the veteran.
Game 2 will take place on Sunday - the Giants will be sending out Jonathan Sanchez, while the Phillies will be starting trade deadline acquisition Roy Oswalt.
