A Must See: Pennant Clincher in Enemy Territory
Talk about an event you must see live. Witnessing your team take the pennant in the enemy’s house is as good as it gets. As a hardcore San Francisco Giants fan currently attending Rutgers University, it’s tough to follow the action, especially when everyone in school has lost interest (due to the Yankees and Phillies being eliminated). However, when the Giants came to Philadelphia for Game 6 of the NLCS just one win shy of their first world series berth since 2002, there was no passing up the opportunity to watch them live.
Walking through Philly’s red sea without God’s protection was not the safest idea I have ever had, but this was an opportunity of a lifetime . As I quickly squeezed through the thankfully sober to find my seats in enemy territory, there were maybe three other Giants fans in the entire stadium joining me in an attempt to will our team to victory in an unfriendly environment.
Rowdy, young and intoxicated were the Philly couple sitting behind my friend Simon and me. From the very first inning, my ear drum had formed its own ringtone due to the constant heckling directly aimed at our ears from our friendly Philly fans in the unsympathetic Citizens Bank Ballpark. Prior to the game, security had introduced themselves and notified me of the hostile environment I had willingly purchased tickets to attend and said “If you have any issues, don’t hesitate to notify any of us”, which was very much appreciated yet also frightening…
…Frightening because I had decided to don the Giants jersey, jacket and hat in a section where only Simon and I were rooting for the San Francisco misfits. It seemed, from our vantage point; as if we were the only two brave enough to enter into rival terrain.
The Phillies quickly grabbed the lead, going up 2-0 after the first inning, leaving Simon and I dead silent, slouched, hoping and praying for the Giants’ bats to find some life. Through two innings, Jonathan Sanchez unraveled, exchanging words with Chase Utley, causing a benches clearing confrontation in the infield, while us lonely Giants fans in the Bud Light Bleachers in center field were left to fen for ourselves. Towels twirling and fans cheering while I kept reminding myself of the Giants M.O.; that is, torture. It’s not always pretty, but the Giants had already pulled out five one-run wins in the postseason and I had reason to believe this could be the sixth.
The bullpen took over and began what was to be a stellar combined 7-inning performance; silencing the ‘dependable’ Philly bats, passionate fans and the jolly green Philly Phanatic himself after what looked to be a long night for the Giant’s staff. The Giants managed to mercifully scrape across 2 runs in the third, tying the game at 2, against Phillies ace Roy Oswalt, who pitched a 3-hit complete game shutout in Game 2 of this series. Finally something to cheer for…
The game quickly came to a stalemate. While there were countless opportunities for both teams to take the lead with runners in scoring position, the pitching for both sides was almost flawless in high pressure situations; that is until the 8th inning. Ryan Madson, who had been perfect in the postseason, served up a fat pitch to the struggling veteran Juan Uribe, and he took advantage, blasting a 2-out solo shot to the right field bleachers, silencing the crowd – sans Simon and I, celebrating to the fullest extent as our favorite unruly couple could only look on in disbelief as their beloved Phillies were headed for defeat.
Bottom of the 9th Inning
Brian Wilson and his famous fearsome beard was due to face the heart of the Philly lineup with a one-run lead to protect. He led the MLB in saves during the regular season, he had already amassed two saves and a win in the series, but this was for the pennant. With runners on first and second, two out and Ryan Howard at the plate with a 3-2 count, the nerves within me surfaced. Sweaty palms, brow damp with anxiety; this was it. Howard had yet to produce an RBI all series, but that didn’t help calm the mental strain this game was causing me. And then it came:
A 90-mph slider at the knees. Called strike three, series over, Giants win the pennant for the first time since 2002; this time without the likes of Barry Bonds. Exhilarating. My heart pumped an emotional high through my veins that carried from the ballpark throughout the hour-long drive back to New Brunswick, NJ, and still carries to this day as the Giants currently hold a 2-0 series lead in the World Series against the Texas Rangers.
The band of misfits, rejects, or whatever you want to call them took the heavily favored Phillies down in their own house and I was there to take it all in. It was worth every penny to see the sadness in the eye of every single Philly fan in the building. This game was by far the best sporting event I have ever witnessed live in my short twenty-two years of life.
Note: Before the game was sealed, Simon decided to begin the chant “Na-na-na-na…hey-hey-hey, goodbye”, much to the chagrin of our friends seated behind us, causing a heated exchange turned headlock, quickly broken up by security.
For tickets to these games or travel packages to see your favorite team, be sure to visit Premier Global Sports. Click here for more information.
-Aron Jacobowitz
