The Whole Delivery

After 56 years, with many of them residing in San Francisco, the baseball Giants have finally become champions once more. Behind an outstanding young pitching staff, a scrappy unit of unsung positional players, and an astute manager longing for ultimate glory himself, the Giants have ended a long drought by defeating the Texas Rangers 3-1 tonight to clinch the 2010 installment of the World Series 4-1. It was only fitting that staff ace Tim Lincecum was the man to spearhead a memorable evening, delivering eight terrific innings in outdueling Cliff Lee and allowing Brain Wilson to cap off a pitching masterclass in the 9th. The pitchers' duel that was expected in Game 1 certainly came to fore-wishing in this encounter. Lee regained his impeccable control that led some to believe he was carving out the mantle of "greatest postseason pitcher of all time", but the reigning 2 time NL champion Lincecum was determined to be the night's #1 protagonist on the mound. And...

It will be unfathomable for some to look back and see that the question of whether Roy Halladay could pitch in the postseason was actually uttered. It really was a legitimate ask, especially considering how the proven playoff performer he replaced, Cliff Lee, just came off another impressive outing to start baseball's second season. Now that question will be eligible for all the audio laugh tracks around the country. In what is clearly the greatest debut ever for a pitcher in the postseason, Halladay produced only the 2nd no-hitter in postseason history to give the Phillies a historic 4-0 Game 1 victory over the Reds. Even more on this remarkable feat later. And to see all 27 outs , there's the link.

Cliff Lee produced the desired return to the postseason for the Texas Rangers, as the ace left hander produced seven stellar innings to go along with an impressive offensive onslaught on David Price in their 5-1 win over the Rays. The full review is here .