KANSAS CITY, Mo. — He can never be a forever Giant like Willie Mays or Willie McCovey or Buster Posey.
Hunter Pence does not have the homegrown pedigree for that.
But like Paul O'Neill with the Yankees or Keith Hernandez with the Mets, Pence has turned into a beloved adopted son with a combination of fiery personality and stellar play. He is assuring he will hold a special place in Giants' history and San Francisco's hearts.
A very good player for the Astros and Phillies, Pence has elevated to something more with the Giants — a leader, a spokesman, a cornerstone of a champion, just as O'Neill and Hernandez became in New York. He is wild man and wise man. His eyes bulge, his words resonate and his body parts contort this way and that when he swings, runs or throws.
"Hunter brings more energy than anyone in the room everyday," Giants Game 2 starter Jake Peavy said.
If Posey and Madison Bumgarner are the Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend front men for these Giants, then Pence is their Keith Moon — a scene-stealing whirling dervish. Who are you? A hero of World Series Game 1.
Pence had entered the 110th World Series hitless in 11 at-bats against James Shields. "But that didn't matter to him," Peavy said. "He plays in the moment."
He thundered a two-run homer in the first and doubled and scored in the fourth, helping the Giants end the Royals' undefeated postseason while delivering an overwhelming opening statement: San Francisco 7, Royals 1.
At its most simplistic level Game 1 came down to Bumgarner pitching like an ace and Shields not counteracting that. But as bad as Shields was, he had a chance at a first-inning reprieve.
With first and second and one out, Pablo Sandoval doubled to right. Gregor Blanco scored easily. However, third-base coach Tim Flannery foolishly tried to score Posey from first and the Giants star catcher was easily thrown out. So there were two down and just a 1-0 lead. Had Shields been able to get Pence, the damage would have been limited, the Kauffman Stadium crowd would have been a factor.
But Pence crashed a 93 mph Shields fastball and quieted the park, launching a blast to right-center that made it 3-0. Pence's double would open the fourth, launch three Giants reaching consecutively and knock Shields out. By the time the inning was done, the Giants led 5-0 and — with Bumgarner going — that felt like a five-touchdown lead.
This was Pence's 32nd and arguably best playoff game (he also drew two walks). But his October fame was previously made with his mouth and inspiration. He came to the Giants on July 31, 2012, from the Phillies. But even in a short period, Pence had a force to his personality.
With the Giants trailing the Reds two-games-to-none in the best-of-five Division Series that year, Pence delivered a pregame speech in which he implored his teammates to play for one another to play another day. San Francisco rallied to win that series and win its second World Series in five years.
His role as iron-man sermonizer — Pence has the longest active games-played streak at 383 — was set. His manager, Bruce Bochy, called Pence "the lowest-maintenance player he has ever had." Peavy likened Pence's relentless passion and positivism to Peavy's one-time Red Sox teammate Dustin Pedroia.
"He is a huge part of what makes this San Francisco bunch go," Peavy said. "It is not the same team without him."
Excellence on the field, exhortation off it. The formula that transformed Pence into a giant in San Francisco.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Pence becoming postseason Giant for San Francisco
Dengan url
http://susuvirus.blogspot.com/2014/10/pence-becoming-postseason-giant-for-san.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Pence becoming postseason Giant for San Francisco
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Pence becoming postseason Giant for San Francisco
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar