2010 MLB World Series to begin on Wednesday evening

2010 MLB World Series to begin on Wednesday evening

2010-10-28 04:59:35 GMT+7 (ICT)

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA (BNO NEWS) – The 2010 Major League Baseball World Series will begin on Wednesday night in an historic confrontation between the San Francisco Giants and the first-time finalists Texas Rangers.

The Game 1 of the Fall Classic will be played at the AT&T Park in an unprecedented match between the Giants and the Rangers. The two teams were the underdogs in their leagues, the National and American league respectively.

The Giants beat the National league favorites Philadelphia Phillies after demonstrating superior pitching against a team ranked as the best in this department. On the other hand, the Rangers intend to conclude this historic season with a World Series title, the first in the franchise history.

The 2010 season witnessed the first Division title and the first American League pennant by the Rangers; an organization marred with disappointing seasons that finally broke through this year. The team, owned by pitching legend Nolan Ryan, expects to celebrate its 50th anniversary with the title.

The Giants also overcame some adversities and thanks to some last-minute trades were able to regain the leadership of their division during the last weeks of the season and qualify for the playoffs. In 2002, the Giants participated in its only World Series in a losing effort against the Anaheim Angels despite having the all-time homerun leader Barry Bonds among its ranks.

For Game 1, Ace pitcher Tim Lincecum will start for the Giants while Cliff Lee, a former World Series winner in 2008, will pitch for the Rangers. Lincecum is a two-time Cy Young award winner, despite being only 26 years old and a 4-year veteran.

Cliff Lee, a nine-season veteran, is currently the most dominating pitcher in MLB playoffs. In 2009, while being member of the Philadelphia Phillies, Lee won two games in the World Series against the eventual winners New York Yankees. In his career, he has not lost a playoff game and has won 7 games so far.

Despite the result, the 2010 World Series will end with an organization winning its first title in history. In the case of Rangers’ catcher Bengie Molina, he will earn a World Series ring even if Texas loose as he was a Giants’ member for most of the year and was traded in August.

Before moving to San Francisco Giants, the then New York Giants were an historic team that won 17 pennants and 5 World Championships. Since moving in 1957, the Giants have participated in three World Series without success, including the 1989 series against the Oakland Athletics, the so-called bay-series that are remembered by the strong earthquake that rocked the region in the middle of the World Series.

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