Following a series in which he hit everything, including an opposing player, it was only fitting that San Francisco Giants second baseman Marco Scutaro caught the last out of Game 7 to eliminate the St. Louis Cardinals.
Scutaro kept his eyes on the ball through the pouring rain and made the catch cleanly as the Giants defeated the Cardinals in dominant fashion 9-0 on Monday night to advance to the World Series for the second time in three years.
"I was just like praying, 'Please, you got to catch this ball,'" Scutaro said to the Associated Press. "It was kind of tough. I was kind of concerned. The flight of the ball, the rain kind of stopped it a little bit. Another minute, I don't think I would have a chance."
Following the game, Scutaro was named NLCS MVP after collecting 14 hits in the seven games.
"It took him a couple days to adjust to us, but he really has been a leader since he got here," said pitcher Ryan Vogelsong, who won Games 2 and 6. "He's played great. He's played great defense. He's a true professional. He knows the game. He does all the little things right. Everything you'd lay out on a table for a guy to do, he does."
When people look back on the San Francisco Giants 2012 postseason and wonder in amazement how their team made it to the World Series, they may look back on one play that sparked it all. And they just might call it "the slide".
In Game 2, with the Giants down in the series 1-0, outfielder Matt Holliday slid into second base hard to break up a double play, crashing into Scutaro. Writhing in pain, Scutaro was able to get himself together, inspiring himself and his team to break out, adding two RBIs in the game before he left with a hip injury.
The team won the game 7-1 and even though they lost the next two games, there is no doubt the slide sparked the team. Scutaro didn't miss any games after the injury and he helped pull the Giants together as they played three elimination games while down 3-1 in the series.
Scutaro tied a series record for hits and had a .500 batting average with six runs scored, four RBIs and two walks. According to ESPN.com, "Hideki Matsui (2004 Yankees), Albert Pujols (2004 Cardinals) and Kevin Youkilis (2007 Red Sox) also had 14 hits in an LCS. And Scutaro's 10-game hitting streak ties Cody Ross and Alvin Dark for the longest in Giants postseason history."
He earns a bonus of $75,000 bonus for winning the award. According to the Associated Press: "Scutaro became just the fifth midseason acquisition to win a postseason MVP award."
"That's the best thing that's ever happened so far," said Giants ace Matt Cain. "That's why it's 'The Blockbuster.'"
Scutaro was acquired at the trade deadline by general manager Brian Sabean from the Colorado Rockies for cash and infielder Charlie Culberson.
"When we acquired Scutaro, a great job by Brian Sabean, making that blockbuster deal, as we say, that's his nickname," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "I knew he was a good player. But to see him day in, day out, you really appreciate the talent that this guy has. I don't know if it was possible for him to raise his game, that's how well he's played, his level. But he did after that slide."
The play of Scutaro and the success of the Giants was not a guarantee earlier in the season. San Francisco was at a low point after losing outfielder Melky Cabrera to steroids and then a day later had to deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, their division rival, acquiring three superstar players from the Boston Red Sox.
But the team never gave up. They pulled away and won the division with 97 wins and when they were up against the wall facing elimination against the Cincinnati Reds, they won three straight games to advance to the League Championship Series.
Through the playoffs, the Giants have won six straight elimination games. Monday night was also the first time the franchise has won a Game 7.
"I kind of thought I had a really good opportunity to make the playoffs with this team," Scutaro said. "We just started playing good, and here we are in the World Series."
