2002 World Series

The 2002 World Series was among the classic matchups in the history of the Series. The Anaheim Angels (American League) and San Francisco Giants (National League) competed for the championship, representing the first time two wildcard teams would vie for the elusive title. It was a mettle-forging comeback, for the Giants were leading by a 3-2 game tally after five games, and scored five runs prior to the seventh-inning stretch of Game 6 while the Angels had not tallied a single run. Then, however, the Angels, being the home team, rallied with three runs each in the seventh and eighth innings for the win. They carried on the momentum for a 4-1 victory in Game 7 for their first championship.

Series summary

The series was played under a seven game series with a 2-3-2 site format(standard in Major League Baseball).

Related Topics:
Seven game series - Major League Baseball

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Game 1: San Francisco won 4-3 at Edison Field(now Angel Stadium) to take a 1-0 lead

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Game 2: Anaheim won 11-10 at home in a game where the lead kept fluctuating between the two teams, tying up the series

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Game 3: Anaheim won 10-4 in the first game at Pacific Bell Park(now SBC Park)

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Game 4: San Francisco scored a 4-3 victory for a split series

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Game 5: San Francisco took a 16-4 blowout win in a game in which the Angels never led

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Game 6: The turning point in the series came in Game 6. Leading 5-0 and 8 outs away from the Giants' first World Series title in San Francisco, Giants manager Dusty Baker pulled starting pitcher Russ Ortiz after he had given up consecutive singles to third baseman Troy Glaus and designated hitter Brad Fullmer to start the bottom half of the 7th inning. In a widely publicized move seen by the Angels as arrogant, Baker gave Ortiz the game ball as he sent him back to the dugout. With one out, Angel first baseman Scott Spiezio came up and fouled off pitch after pitch before finally hitting a 3-run home run that barely cleared the wall in right field. The rally continued in the 8th inning, as Angel center fielder Darin Erstad hit a leadoff home run, followed by consecutive singles by Tim Salmon and Garret Anderson. Baker brought in closer Robb Nen to pitch to Glaus, who slugged a double to the left-center field gap to drive in the tying and winning runs.

Related Topics:
Dusty Baker - Russ Ortiz - Troy Glaus - Brad Fullmer - Scott Spiezio - Darin Erstad - Tim Salmon - Garret Anderson - Robb Nen

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Game 7: Game 7 proved to be anticlimactic after the drama of Game 6. The Giants scored the first run, but the Angels responded with a run-scoring double from catcher Bengie Molina and a 3-run double from left fielder Garret Anderson to take the lead. Rookie starting pitcher John Lackey maintained the lead and closer Troy Percival came in and got the final 3 outs. The Angels won Game 7, 4-1, to claim their franchise's first and so far only World Series Championship.

Related Topics:
Bengie Molina - Garret Anderson - John Lackey - Troy Percival

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