In 2010 it was Cody Ross, in 2012 Travis Ishikawa and in 2016 it’s Conor Gillaspie.
Gillaspie knocked the Giants into the NLDS on Wednesday evening, the replacement third baseman rocking three-run jack in the top of the ninth inning to push the Giants past the Mets 3-0 in the NL Wild Card playoff.
The Giants rode another legendary playoff performance from Madison Bumgarner, who pitched a complete game shutout, while allowing just four hits and striking out six.
Noah Syndergaard was also as advertised tossing 108 pitches in seven shutout innings, allowing two hits and striking out 10, but could not outlast the indefatigable Bumgarner.
As expected, the game started with the two dominant starters trading punches.
Syndergaard took care of the Giants on 15 pitches in the first inning, and Bumgarner countered by sitting the Mets down on seven pitches in the bottom half. The big lefty did the same in the second inning, getting New York to hit shallow pop-ups on five of the first six outs.
The Giants were the hardest team to strikeout in 2016, but Syndergaard made them look like they were batting with their eyes closed, fanning five of the first nine Ginats hitters, including Joe Panik, the hardest player to strikeout in the National League.
Bumgarner countered in the third by taking care of the Mets in….seven pitches.
Denard Span was the first player to reach base, walking in the fourth inning, before being called out trying to steal second. The replay appeared to show Span reaching base well before the tag, but the call was upheld, likely because it was ruled that Span’s foot came off the bag for a split second as the tag was being made.
The fourth was the highest stress inning for each pitcher up to that point, with Syndergarrd throwing 22 pitches to four batters after entering the frame with 37, and Bumgarner tossing 28 pitches after entering having thrown just 21 up to that point.
Bumgarner gave up a leadoff double in the fifth inning to T.J. Rivera, but buckled down getting Jay Bruce to strike out swinging and Rene Rivera to hit into a fielders choice. Bumgarner didn’t issue a single intentional walk during the regular season, but was forced give James Looney a free pass with two outs, and man on second and Syndergaard on deck. The decision proved fruitful, with Bumgarner striking out Thor and his hammer on four pitches.
Syndergaard returned the favor in the sixth, on a questionable pitch that had Bumgarner take a long hard look at home plate umpire Mike Winters before making his way back to the dugout. Denard Span broke up Syndergaard’s no-hitter in the next at-bat, climbing back from a 0-2 count to line a single to center. Span attempted his second steal of second and was successful this time, giving the Giants a runner in scoring position for the first time.
Four pitches later, it looked as if Brandon Belt had given the Giants the lead, drilling a fastball to deep center field, but Curtis Granderson dashed San Francisco’s hopes making a spectacular over the shoulder catch before slamming into the 405 marker in center field.
