Bringing the Heat, Battle of the Bay is Inevitable

Buster Posey hits a Grand Slam off Mat Latos in the Fifth Inning 

(Photo: Andrew Weber, US PRESSWIRE)

With the Giant's unlikely comeback against the Cincinnati Reds in the National League Division Series, it looks like the first Bay Bridge Series since 1989 is upon us. In the first few days, it appeared that the Giants would have a mediocre series, and be swept by the Cincinnati Reds, ending the supposed dynasty by the Bay Area. But the numbers are completely against that hypothesis now. What was a 5-2 and 9-0 loss to the Reds, is now a 2-1 and 8-3 tie, with a victory in the 5th game almost unavoidable.

While the Giants' scores aren't as powerful as Cincinnati's 9-0 shut out, the San Francisco's pitching finally overcame it's plateau that was shadowing the team for pretty much the entire 2012 season. Matt Cain regained his footing, and Kontos is proving himself along with Affelt. The team is also hopeful of  Lincecum in the following season. But no one has shined more in this series than catcher Buster Posey. With two home runs, one of which being a Grand Slam (the third by a catcher in MLB history), Posey has cemented himself as the National League's rookie of the year, carrying the Giants for scoring.

Jarrod Parker's pitching could challenge Verlander in Game 5

 Photo: AP/Ben Margot

On the other side of the bridge, the A's are slowly putting the Tigers in their place. Although Verlander is starting, who is 3-0 with a 0.90 ERA in three starts against the Athletics this year, Jarrod Parker is heating up on the mound. 0-1 with a 2.84 ERA, Parker doesn't seem like a force to be reckoned with, but went 0-5 with one walk on Detroit's sluggers Cabrera and Fielder.

The series is tied 2-2, with the final game deciding the winner at 9:37 pm ET, another Bay Bridge Series is all with in the realm of possibility.