SEVENTH HEAVEN!
Giants hold off A's, force Game 7 in first FSBL World Series

The intro to our story following Game 2 of the first Franchise Stars Baseball League World Series was "it wasn't supposed to be like this."

And it wasn't.

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The Oakland A's had thoroughly dominated the San Francisco Giants, outscoring them 19-2 in the first two games in Oakland to take a commanding series lead.

Even after the Giants pulled out the Game 3 win, 7-5, confidence rested that the A's would seal the deal. When they took Game 4, 10-6, to push the Giants to the brink, that feeling grew stronger.

The A's were three outs away from a championship in Game 5, with closer Rollie Fingers on the mound, protecting a one-run lead. The A's had led, 4-1, before Willie Mays' 8th homer of the playoffs brought the Giants back within a run. When Ott greeted Fingers with a first pitch rocket slamming off the front of the lower deck at Candlestick to tie the game, the worm officially turned.

The Giants would walk off in Game 5 later in that 9th inning on an RBI single from Freddie Lindstrom, forcing the series back to Oakland.

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Now, the Giants have forced Game 7!

Joe McGinnity, throwing on three days rest, allowed nothing until the 8th, surrendering two runs over seven innings and the Giants' bullpen bent but didn't break in holding off the A's late rally for a 4-3 victory that sets up and ending so many envisioned for much of the season...A's...Giants...Game 7!

"It's right there," Willie Mays said postgame shortly after Alvin Dark handled Marcus Semien's grounder up the middle, stepped on second and fired to first for the game-ending double play as the would-be tying run moved to third only to turn and see the game was over and he'd advance no further.

"Who doesn't dream of a Game 7" Mays asked rhetorically.

The A's said much of the same sentiment in a subdued clubhouse after Game 6, with Game 7 starter Catfish Hunter - exceptional in two ALCS starts but knocked out in the first inning of Game 3 here in the World Series - saying "Every kid has played this moment in their yard, now I get to live it."

But one would think, if they're honest, the A's feel they should have this done already. They respect the Giants, but they bolted out of the gate in games 1 and 2, took a 3-1 series lead in Game 4 and were three outs away from a championship in Game 5.

Now, it's one game. Winner takes it all.

"Pressure it what you let it be," said Giants catcher Buster Posey, who has been scalding hot including a homer and double in Game 6. "Nothing's guaranteed. Both our teams had amazing seasons. And now, one game determines if it's a success or a failure. You can love that, or you can let it overwhelm you."