Confident Giants keep winning

The San Francisco Giants' even-year postseason magic is still intact as they march through the playoffs on their way to the National League championship series and their third World Series in the past five years.

After routing the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-0 in a one-game wildcard playoff behind Madison Bumgarner's four-hit, shutout-pitching masterpiece, and Brandon Crawford's stunning grand slam, the confident Giants nipped the Washington Nationals 3-2 in the division series opener as Jake Peavy earned the mound win.

Then, in the second of the five-game series with Washington, the Giants again demonstrated their championship composure under the direction of steely eyed and know-how-to-lead manager Bruce Bochy by not flinching in a 1-1 game that lasted the length of a double-header, while the Nationals did finally flinch.

With Tim Hudson pitching a sparkling seven-plus innings; Yusmeiro Petit's six-plus shut-down mound innings; and rookie reliever Hunter Strickland nailing down the save after San Francisco took a 2-1 lead on Brandon Belt's mammoth homer, the Giants outlasted Washington for a playoff record 18 frames.

Saturday’s marathon win came a day after my youngest daughter got married in Scott’s Valley (Santa Cruz Mountains) and I, family, friends and what seemed like everybody within miles of our vicinity, were anxiously watching.

With my daughter’s incredibly happy occasion, I didn’t want to get into the Giants until I returned to my home DVR. But, alas, I kept passing the Hilton’s bar TV to keep up with the baseball equivalent of the novel “War and Peace,” and, along with my wife, we followed the epic through four locations.

We started and returned to the Hilton bar TV, and then watched the 15th to 17th innings at a restaurant and bar we go to often, before ending up at our middle daughter’s home for the dramatic 18th frame.

At first I couldn’t find it on the TV, so I listened to it on the radio, which was great hearing our announcers. I then saw the replays of Belt’s homer and Strickland’s finish.

It was the dazzling Giants' 10th straight playoff game win, which includes an amazing seven elimination-game victories.

The third game of the series took place in San Francisco yesterday – results not available at presstime – with the imposing Bumgarner back on the mound, and if the Giants had their postseason winning streak broken (which would be surprising with "MadBum" pitching), the fourth clash takes place today in "The City."

Then, if it goes to a fifth game, and with their record elimination-game winning streak in motion, the Giants have the proven track record to triumph again and reach loftier heights of postseason success – like, maybe, that third World Series title in a half a decade.

Ciao!