The even year magic continues for the San Francisco Giants as they beat the New York Mets 3-0 in the win-or-go-home National League Wild Card Game to continue another Orange October. Wednesday night’s matchup was the ultimate pitcher’s duel: Madison Bumgarner versus Noah Syndergaard.
Bumgarner and Syndergaard went into the game with similar records and ERAs. Syndergaard finished the regular season 14-9 with a 2.60 ERA, while Bumgarner finished with a 15-9 record and 2.74 ERA. Syndergaard did not allow a hit until the sixth inning and he gave up only two hits in seven innings. Madison Bumgarner allowed only four hits in nine innings, shutting out the Mets in the same fashion as the 2014 wild-card game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The game was scoreless until the top of the ninth when Brandon Crawford led off with a double against Mets closer Jeurys Familia, who then walked Joe Panik after striking out Angel Pagan. Two men on base with one out was a great spot for the Giants to be in with one of their hottest hitters right now, third baseman Conor Gillaspie, coming to the plate. Gillaspie’s three-run homer put the Giants on the scoreboard and Bumgarner completed a shutout game to clinch a Giants win.
The Giants and Mets ended their regular seasons with identical records (87-75). At the All-Star break, the Giants had the best record in the MLB at 57-33. But, similar to what happened in 2014, the Giants hit a major slump, going 30-42 in the second half of the season and barely making the playoffs.
There is no question that even years are special for the San Francisco Giants. But what is more
interesting about this even year is how eerily similar it is to 2014. Take a look:
