Giants 3, Phillies 2: Brian Wilson Shuts Down Phillies, Sends Giants To World Series

It was fitting that Brian Wilson, one of the most beloved personalities in San Francisco, would be the one to shut the door on the Phillies and send the Giants to the World Series.

After allowing a runner in scoring position, Wilson froze Ryan Howard on a called third strike in Philadelphia to record the save.

This Giants team was one that had to clinch a postseason berth on the final day of the season, and spent a good chunk of the season looking up at the Padres in the N.L. West. As is often the case these days with World Series teams, the baseball world did not expect them to get there.

And yet, here they will be. Tonight, it happened because of a bullpen that refused to budge even when it was forced to work six innings, a home run from a slumping hitter, and a cold-blooded performance from their bearded closer.

Now they face the Texas Rangers in the 2010 World Series. I doubt that any baseball fan predicted a Rangers-Giants World Series, but I think I speak for most of us when I say that we're delighted to see it.