A storybook 2021 season came to an end for the San Francisco Giants on Thursday night as they were defeated by the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the National League Division Series.
For the Giants to even take the defending World Series champs to a winner-take-all contest can be considered a major accomplishment as most preseason projection models had them missing the playoffs.
San Francisco went on to exceed expectations by winning a franchise-record 107 games to claim their first NL West title since 2012.
It snapped the Dodgers’ streak of consecutive division crowns at eight, and they had to win a one-game playoff against the St. Louis Cardinals to get the opportunity to face their longtime rival for the first time in postseason history.
“I’m shocked it was the first, but, yeah, I mean, yeah, what a series for the first time,” Darin Ruf said after the Giants’ 2-1 loss. “I mean, we don’t plan on taking any steps backwards and I know they don’t. So, yeah, it will be hopefully fun for years to come.”
Logan Webb, who again proved difficult to solve in Game 5, also vowed that the Giants and Dodgers will meet again in the postseason. “This won’t be the last time we play them in the playoffs,” he said.
As the Dodgers prepare for a rematch with the Atlanta Braves in the NL Championship Series, Cody Bellinger additionally gave his thoughts on potentially facing the Giants in the postseason again down the road.
“I would assume that that would be the case, that we will continue to play each other,” Bellinger said. “Yeah, that would be my guess as well.”
Scherzer praises Giants
Bellinger’s game-winning RBI single in the top of the ninth preceded Max Scherzer closing the door on the Giants for his first career save. “They’re a great team,” Scherzer said after throwing a scoreless inning on only three days’ rest.
“A 107-win team and the guys that they had this year, how well they were, the season they had and the fight they had in this series, I mean, went down all the way to the last pitch.
“Just fight all season long. I’m just glad I got to join it in mid-season and be a part of this and be a part of the winning team.”
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