One month ago the Dodgers were first in the NL West, and the Giants were 7.5 games back. Now, they’re tied for first. The Giants entered the 3 game series 3 games back, easily overtaking that gap after sweeping the Dodgers. 3 games, 13 runs, 31 hits. And that’s just the Giants. The Giants’ bullpen delivered 27 shutout innings in the series, the first time in Dodgers franchise history that the Dodgers have scored 0 runs in a 3 game sweep.
The rivalry between the Giants and the Dodgers is revered as one of the greatest in sports history. The teams first met in 1884, when both teams were based in New York. When the Dodgers decided the move out to California in 1957, Giants owner Horace Stoneham was convinced to move his team to California in order to preserve that rivalry. Any win against the Dodgers is a sweet one.
With the All-Star break just around the corner, this one felt particularly wonderful. Along with closing the gap in the standings, the game also served as a reminder that some amount of the Cy Young winning Lincecum we know and love is still there. Lincecum entered the game having lost his previous 6 starts. Today he recorded 7 shutout innings, allowing only 4 hits and 2 walks. He also played a crucial role in tagging out Dodgers pitcher Chad Billingsly at the plate as he tried to make it home on a wild pitch. Lincecum even helped on offense, singling and eventually scoring in 1 of 2 plate appearances.
Now that the Giants and the Dodgers are tied for first, they’ve both got to work hard to gain the lead heading into the All-Star Break. Starting tomorrow, former Giants’ manager Dusty Baker will be in town for the first of a 4 game series. The Dodgers head home to host a 4 game series with the Mets (who beat the Cubs 17-1 today, by the way).
For me, the 3-game sweep has yet another layer of joy. My attitude towards the Dodgers dates back to when I was 3, and I would stand up on my seat at Giants-Dodgers games shouting “Beat L-Yay!” as loud as I could, reveling in the energy of the crowd around me. Now, my heart breaks every time I walk into my local grocery store and see Dodgers gear readily available. Jeremy Affeldt said it well when he said that with the last out, the rivalry ends on the field. But that doesn’t mean I can’t gloat a little, right?
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