San Francisco Giants Headed to Postseason as Wild Card: Even-Year Mojo

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Those who live in the Bay Area know it happens on even years. The San Francisco Giants won the World Series in 2010, 2012 and 2014, and in 2016 they are going after the title again. The Giants beat the Dodgers 7-1 at AT&T Park Sunday, snagging one of the coveted Wild Card spots and advancing them to the postseason for the fourth straight even year in a decade.

They’re taking a four game winning streak into the one-game Wild Card playoff against the Mets. The team’s bats are hot, having scored seven against the Rockies Thursday, nine opposite the Dodgers Friday night and another seven on Sunday. On Saturday, they only put three runs on the board against Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, but rookie Ty Blach (who?) pitched a shutout in only his second major league start.

In case you don’t remember, the Giants entered the postseason as a Wild Card team in 2014. The popular Bay Area team is 87-75, reviving themselves after experiencing a painful mid-season slump.

The historic game Sunday was unforgettable — not just for faithful Giants fans but for so many lifelong baseball fans across the country. Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully called the last game of his 67-year broadcast career at the Bay Area ballpark. Scully, who spent his entire career with the Dodgers, joining the team in Brooklyn and moving with them to Los Angeles, was honored by the Giants with a plaque that will have a permanent place in the broadcast booth at AT&T Park. Giants fans who watched the game on TV were treated to a taste of Scully’s amazing talent as his call of the third inning was broadcast in the Bay Area.

During the game, fans waved cards that said "Thank you Vin," and San Francisco Hall-of-Famer Willie Mays dropped by to chat with Scully, who fell in love with baseball as a Giants fan.

On Oct. 5 at 5 p.m., the Giants will take on the Mets at Citi Field in New York City.

Patch Editor Bea Karnes and Bay City News contributed to this report.

Photo of AT&T park courtesy C. Klein