2002 World Series Game 6 San Francisco vs. Anaheim October 26, 2002

No one, I repeat, no one talks about this series as much as they should. All but two games of this series were decided by 3 runs or less. Both teams were the Wild Card representatives from their respective leagues. After being up 2 games to 1, the Angels lost games 4 & 5 in San Francisco to go down 3 to 2. Game 4 was won by the Giants by a score of 4-3 and game 5 by a score of 16-4 in favor of San Francisco. The Big A was rockin at the start of game 6, but it quickly went quiet to where all you heard was the yelling coming from the Giants dugout.

Each team went scoreless through the first four innings. Kevin Appier was the starter for the Angels and Russ Ortiz for the Giants. Not great pitchers by any stretch, but dependable starters for their clubs. Appier began to get into trouble in the fifth inning when Giants DH Shawon Dunston hit a two run HR just clearing the inside part of the foul pole in left field. Later that inning, 2B Jeff Kent drove in another run off reliever Francisco Rodriguez to give the Giants a 3-0 lead after five. In the sixth, the Giants added another with LF Barry Bonds’ 4th HR of the series. 4-0 Giants after six. CF Kenny Lofton would score in the seventh on a wild pitch from Rodriguez. 5-0 Giants going into the bottom of the seventh. I can’t tell you how much it sucked to be watching that game and how it was turning out. However when the seventh inning stretch was over, things began to look better for the Halos.

LF Garrett Anderson was the first out in the seventh for Anaheim. 3B Troy Glaus then singled to left. DH Brad Fullmer followed with another bloop single to right center. Giants starter Russ Ortiz was then taken out of the ball game, but before he was sent back to the dugout. I kid you not, manager Dusty Baker gave Ortiz the ball as if the game was essentially over. A ridiculous move by Dusty who should have known better. Reliever Felix Rodriguez came in for the Giants and had to deal with 1B Scott Spiezio with two on and one out. Spiezio fought off what seemed like a dozen pitches before he swung at a ball down and in. The ball just seemed to not want to listen to gravity as it continued to fly towards the stands in right.

RF Reggie Sanders of the Giants had no chance at robbing it as a few fans began to yell and point at him, probably saying, “It’s not over Reggie. It’s not over!!!” Or something to that effect. The Giants were still up 5-3 after that momentum changing home run. San Francisco was shut out after the top of the eighth. The Angels started off their half of the eighth with a solo HR from CF Darin Erstad off reliever Tim Worrell. 5-4 Giants with no outs. RF Tim Salmon singled and was pinch run for by Chone Figgins. Anderson then singled and advanced to second thanks to Bonds error in left. Runners on second and third with no outs down by a run. Dusty then had no choice but to bring in his closer Rob Nen for a six out save. Glaus was up and was even in the count with Nen 1-1 when Glaus crushed a fastball (pictured above) to deep left center off the warning track for a bases clearing double. Angels lead 6-5.

The place was crazy. The Giants couldn’t get a base runner on in the ninth as closer Troy Percival saved another game for the Halos. The Angels were down by five and were eight outs away from losing the World Series. They promptly came out the next night and took any hopes of a championship from the Giants winning 4-1 to clinch their first world series title. Two things come to my mind with this moment/game. One, it is the greatest come from behind victory in World Series history. HISTORY. And two, it showed that even a team that most fans have no idea who the players are, can give you one of the most exciting games/series you will ever see.