Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) – Juan Uribe belted the go-ahead solo homer off Ryan Madson with two outs in the eighth inning, and the San Francisco Giants secured their first trip to the World Series since 2002 with a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Giants were able to eliminate the two-time defending National League champions in six NLCS games despite lifting starting pitcher Jonathan Sanchez after two-plus innings.
San Francisco will open the World Series at home against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday. The Rangers, who eliminated the 2009 World Series champion New York Yankees in six games of the ALCS, will make their maiden voyage to the Fall Classic.
Uribe, who hit the game-winning sacrifice fly in the ninth inning of a 6-5 victory in Game 4, sent Madson’s first offering over the scoreboard wall in right field.
Five other San Francisco pitchers, including Tim Lincecum making his second- ever relief appearance, shut down the Phillies the rest of the way. Brian Wilson entered with one out in the eighth after Lincecum gave up consecutive singles to Shane Victorino and Raul Ibanez. Carlos Ruiz then lined out to first baseman Aubrey Huff, who threw to shortstop Edgar Renteria to complete the double play.
Wilson walked Jimmy Rollins with one out in the ninth, but he was forced out at second on Placido Polanco’s grounder. Chase Utley walked on a 3-1 outside pitch. Ryan Howard, who didn’t have an RBI in the entire series, struck out looking on a 3-2 pitch, and the Giants celebrated in the infield.
Since moving to San Francisco in 1958, the Giants have gone 0-3 in three trips to the World Series, with the most recent visit coming eight years ago when they lost in seven games to the Angels.
San Francisco, which beat Atlanta in the NLDS, has posted six one-run wins this postseason.
The Phillies, who were trying to become the first NL team to advance to three straight World Series since the 1942-44 St. Louis Cardinals. staved off elimination with a Game 5 win in San Francisco on Thursday, but couldn’t make the most of their opportunities Saturday. They went 2-for-11 with men in scoring position and left 11 runners on base. The Phillies hit .216 in the series.