Giants Score - Cain outduels Hamels, Giants take 2-1 NLCS lead, phillies score, phillies, sf giants score, giants baseball, giants phillies: With the king run home to watch and cheer from a front row seat, Ross returned again, Matt Cain (Notes) outdueled Cole Hamels (notes) and the San Francisco Giants beat thePhiladelphia Phillies 3 -0 Tuesday for a 2-1 lead in the NL championship series. Picked up on waivers in August in Florida, Ross has added to its rapidly growing legacy series. He homered three times in the first two games in Philadelphia and hit a single with a RBI in Game 3 to break a tie without a goal.
"He plays without fear," Giants manager Bruce Bochy. "That's what you like about the guy."
The modest Ross insists he is far from deserving of comparisons with the Bonds or Mr. October himself, Reggie Jackson.
Bochy even tinkered with his lineup, moving to Ross in the No. 5 spot. The guy in a good mood who aspired to be a rodeo clown as a kid came to the plate chants of "Cody" Cody!
"It's a name that is easy to sing, that's probably why. Two syllables, "Ross said." It was an incredible experience for me so far. A month and a half, two months ago, I was not dreaming, I'd be in this situation. The Giants have been fantastic for bringing me here. It was just a great ride. "
San Francisco grabbed the hem of his best-of-seven series against the two reigning NL-with two more games in their order of magnitude at home.
Bonds, dressed in his old jersey No. 25, got the crowd waving towels will surrender 43,320 at AT & T Park during his introduction to the field before first ball with three other ex-Giants. He threw his arms in the air and stirred, generating cheers.
The Giants have never won a World Series since moving West in San Francisco before the 1958 season. They came within six outs from a title in 2002, led by the beating of Bonds.
The last time this franchise has won everything in 1954 as the New York Giants. On a team that included future Hall of Famer Willie Mays and other major players, it was a part-time outfielder who hit .253 in his career, Dusty Rhodes - who has emerged as the star of series with two homers in six at-bats.
So far, this postseason, the role of unlikely hero is wholly owned by Ross, an outfielder with a lifetime mark 0265. Ross and Rhodes both played seven seasons and reached the playoffs only once.
"He is our spark plug," Aubrey Huff (Notes) said.
Ross hit a RBI single in the fourth inning to break a tie without a playoff goal and fellow first-timer Huff followed with a run scoring single.
"It's definitely hot," said Hamels. "He was struggling and that most sites to hit normal people can not hit at that time."
The answer?
"Hit him," Hamels put down.
This duel was the third starter in as many impressive games of this NLCS. First, there was Roy Halladay (Notes) vs. Tim Lincecum (notes) and Roy Oswalt (notes) and Jonathan Sanchez (notes).
Joe Blanton (notes) will start for the Phillies in Game 4 on Wednesday night, if the manager Charlie Manuel considered Halladay on short rest. Blanton last row a round of relief last day of the season, a 8-7 loss to Atlanta, and has not started since September 29.
Rookie Madison Bumgarner (notes) starts for the Giants in his first career clash with the Phillies. He launched the series of tire division in Atlanta.
"I would say that tomorrow is the biggest game we've played so far," Manuel said.
On a beautiful fall day and festive in the Bay Area, Bochy made all the right moves.
With Ross back, Aaron Rowand (grades) earned a shot to center field, then doubled and scored on Freddy Sanchez (notes)-single in the fifth inning.
"We just have the old lineup out there and everyone was struggling against a hard, hard left," said Huff. "This guy was mowing people almost all year, it was a big win to return home and get the first."
Cain allowed two hits in seven innings, struck out five and walked three in a major effort 119-land.
Javier Lopez (notes) started the eighth and Brian Wilson (notes), he finished for his fourth save sets and the second in as many tries this series.
"Usually, somebody steps up, but this was not the case today," shortstop Jimmy Rollins of the Phillies (Notes) said. "If you're a guy, you would get C is how to jump start it. "
Cain and 2008 World Series MVP Hamels each started three games with no point. The lefty Hamels has not allowed a hit until Edgar Renteria (Notes) single to start the fourth, while Carlos Ruiz (notes) one-out single in the third was the first off Cain.
Afterward Renteria Sanchez sacrificed to second. Buster Posey (Notes) struck out swinging and former Phillies outfielder Pat Burrell (Notes) walked. Ross followed with his single.
San Francisco managed only four hits in losing 6-1, Sunday night at Citizens Bank Park. The Giants knew they needed to do more Tuesday to swing the momentum back in their favor.
Rowand Bochy started against his former club in place of the fight Andres Torres (notes). Bochy said Torres would be back in the lineup Wednesday against a right-handed. When Rowand scored, the first person to greet Rowand in the dugout was Torres.
"You feel good for them. They are pros," Bochy said of Rowand and Renteria. "They did a great job to put aside their egos. We have guys who are used to being there every day. Aaron was ready and gets a head today was a great success, the race results. They were a big part of that. "
Freddy Sanchez in the No. 2 hole was the only giant to stay in place in order. Shortstop Renteria moved to the leadoff hole Torres regular, while Huff was moved down to sixth place from third.
Juan Uribe (notes) played after being scratched before the end of Game 2 with a bruised left wrist. An MRI exam Monday showed no structural damage.
Cain has shown no sign of a long layoff winning his first career playoff victory. Pitching on 10 days rest since a no-decision in Game 2 of the division series against Atlanta, October 8, Cain beat the Phillies for the first time. He had been 0-3 lifetime with a 6.23 ERA in his first five career starts against Philadelphia.
Bochy visited Cain handed Ruiz after the coup, then walked pinch-hitter Ross Gloade (notes) with two outs in the seventh, but took with him. Cain retired Shane Victorino (notes) on a grounder.
Cain shut down the heart of the Phillies lineup loaded, too.
Chase Utley (notes), batting second for the second straight game, came in 7 for 15 with three home runs against Cain. It was 0 for 4. Like Placido Polanco (notes) and Raul Ibanez (notes), who grounded into a game-ending double.
Ibanez is in a funk 0-for-15 dating of the division series with Cincinnati.
"There is not enough time to analyze situations. Let there and worry about the future," said Victorino. "Do not sit and think about what we do."
Hamels, who comes from a five-hit shutout against Cincinnati on Oct. 10 in his last outing, was marked by three runs and five hits in six innings. He struck out eight and walked one.
Notes: Giants starters have yet to allow an earned run in 22 rounds 2-3 at home this postseason. ... Bonds, JT Snow (notes), Robb Nen and Shawon Dunston all threw ceremonial first pitches. ... Huff hit sixth only the fourth time this season. ... Rowand double was his first series success in extra-base for a home run on October 3, 2007, against Colorado while with the Phillies. ... Cain is 11-0 this season when the Giants scored three or more points for him. ... Wilson has 10 strikeouts in the series, five series after five against Atlanta.