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San Francisco Giants closer and Brawley native Sergio Romo reacts after striking out Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera in the 10th inning of Game 4 of baseball's World Series on Sunday in Detroit. The Giants won the game 4-3 to win the World Series. (AP PHOTO / October 28, 2012) |
The 2012 World Series came down Sunday night to a one-run extra-innings lead being held by Brawley native Sergio Romo and Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera.
Cabrera batted .330 on the regular season, but it didn't phase the San Francisco Giants' closer.
Romo froze Cabrera for the called strike three and his team's second World Series championship in three years.
“It brings chills,” Romo's former coach and current Brawley Union High baseball coach Pedro Carrranza said.
“They can take a lot of things from you in this life, but they can't take this memory away,” he said.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy went to Romo not just once or twice, but three times during the Series against the Detroit Tigers, proving his faith in the 29-year-old.
That number three epitomizes Romo's 2012 World Series output:
Three times he was called in by Bochy in the ninth inning to attempt the save, and each time he delivered.
Three times he faced three batters, and each time he recorded a three-and-out.
His Series stat line reads three saves out of three opportunities, with three innings total pitched in three different games.
Sunday had one more such stat, as Romo faced and struck out all three of the batters who faced him.
“We're very proud of my brother,” Sergio's brother Andrew Romo said. “We knew he was capable of great things.
“We knew it was well within his capabilities,” Andrew Romo said.
Just three nights after recording his first save of the postseason in a do-or-die Game 7 of the National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sergio Romo was called in Thursday to the mound to protect a 2-0 lead against Detroit.
He promptly caused Quintin Berry to fly out to left field, then struck out Austin Jackson before setting Omar Infante up to foul out to first, giving Romo the save.
The former Brawley Wildcat was called in Saturday night to relieve Tim Lincecum and protect another 2-0 lead.
He immediately caused Jhonny Peralta to foul out to left field, followed by Alex Avila flying out to left-center field.
Romo ended the game by striking out Infante (.300 in the postseason), putting the Giants one step away from being the 2012 champs.
Sunday night was Romo's best performance yet, and arguably the best performance a closer could have.
Up by just one run in the bottom of the 10th inning and with one runner already on third base, Romo entered the game with his team's fate lying on his arm and pitching decisions.
He delivered.
He struck out Jackson – .300 on the season, .280 in the postseason – for the second time in the Series before striking out pinch hitter Don Kelly.
One victorious stare-down with Cabrera later, and Romo is on top of the baseball world.
“It's amazing to see, because all I see is that same young man that was at practice every day working hard to achieve his goal to be the best,” Carranza said. “I don't know that you can deny him that right now.
“In our lifetime, they say the best closer we'll ever see is Mariano Rivera and I just saw the baseball announcers compare Sergio's numbers to Mariano's,” he said. “His numbers are out of this world.”
In speaking admirably of his brother, Andrew Romo said what Bochy would echo later.
“He is not afraid of anybody,” Andrew said of Sergio. “Something my dad taught us from a young age is that when we play, we play without being afraid.
“The thing is, you go balls to the wall,” he said. “Sometimes you win and sometimes you don't, and this time for my brother obviously he helped the Giants win.
“It's basically just being fearless,” Andrew said.
Sergio Romo was unavailable for comment Sunday. Look in Tuesday's edition of the Imperial Valley Press for a follow-up article on local athlete Sergio Romo's huge influence in the San Francisco Giants winning the 2012 World Series.
To join the discussion and add your comments to this story, please click here to be directed to Facebook.
Cabrera batted .330 on the regular season, but it didn't phase the San Francisco Giants' closer.
Romo froze Cabrera for the called strike three and his team's second World Series championship in three years.
“It brings chills,” Romo's former coach and current Brawley Union High baseball coach Pedro Carrranza said.
“They can take a lot of things from you in this life, but they can't take this memory away,” he said.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy went to Romo not just once or twice, but three times during the Series against the Detroit Tigers, proving his faith in the 29-year-old.
That number three epitomizes Romo's 2012 World Series output:
Three times he was called in by Bochy in the ninth inning to attempt the save, and each time he delivered.
Three times he faced three batters, and each time he recorded a three-and-out.
His Series stat line reads three saves out of three opportunities, with three innings total pitched in three different games.
Sunday had one more such stat, as Romo faced and struck out all three of the batters who faced him.
“We're very proud of my brother,” Sergio's brother Andrew Romo said. “We knew he was capable of great things.
“We knew it was well within his capabilities,” Andrew Romo said.
Just three nights after recording his first save of the postseason in a do-or-die Game 7 of the National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sergio Romo was called in Thursday to the mound to protect a 2-0 lead against Detroit.
He promptly caused Quintin Berry to fly out to left field, then struck out Austin Jackson before setting Omar Infante up to foul out to first, giving Romo the save.
The former Brawley Wildcat was called in Saturday night to relieve Tim Lincecum and protect another 2-0 lead.
He immediately caused Jhonny Peralta to foul out to left field, followed by Alex Avila flying out to left-center field.
Romo ended the game by striking out Infante (.300 in the postseason), putting the Giants one step away from being the 2012 champs.
Sunday night was Romo's best performance yet, and arguably the best performance a closer could have.
Up by just one run in the bottom of the 10th inning and with one runner already on third base, Romo entered the game with his team's fate lying on his arm and pitching decisions.
He delivered.
He struck out Jackson – .300 on the season, .280 in the postseason – for the second time in the Series before striking out pinch hitter Don Kelly.
One victorious stare-down with Cabrera later, and Romo is on top of the baseball world.
“It's amazing to see, because all I see is that same young man that was at practice every day working hard to achieve his goal to be the best,” Carranza said. “I don't know that you can deny him that right now.
“In our lifetime, they say the best closer we'll ever see is Mariano Rivera and I just saw the baseball announcers compare Sergio's numbers to Mariano's,” he said. “His numbers are out of this world.”
In speaking admirably of his brother, Andrew Romo said what Bochy would echo later.
“He is not afraid of anybody,” Andrew said of Sergio. “Something my dad taught us from a young age is that when we play, we play without being afraid.
“The thing is, you go balls to the wall,” he said. “Sometimes you win and sometimes you don't, and this time for my brother obviously he helped the Giants win.
“It's basically just being fearless,” Andrew said.
Sergio Romo was unavailable for comment Sunday. Look in Tuesday's edition of the Imperial Valley Press for a follow-up article on local athlete Sergio Romo's huge influence in the San Francisco Giants winning the 2012 World Series.
To join the discussion and add your comments to this story, please click here to be directed to Facebook.
