2010 World Series: Game 2

Posted on October 29, 2010

Cody Ross of the San Francisco Giants slides into home scoring on Juan Uribe’s RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning of Game Two of the 2010 World Series against the Texas Rangers at AT&T Park on Thursday, October 28, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin/MLB Photos)

 

Did the 2010 World Series really start yesterday in San Francisco, and did the Giants really win the first two games? This surreal week working for Major League Baseball Photos continued for me today as the Giants took advantage of some great pitching, timely hitting, and a crappy Rangers bullpen to pummel the lads from Texas 9-0. They took a two games to none lead as the Series travels to Arlington, Texas on Friday and continues with Game 3 on Saturday night. Once again I started my day in my own house here in Pleasanton and drove myself to the World Freaking Series! Nutty.

After two successful ballgames at the beautiful ballpark at Third and King it was apparent that all my friends who had traveled from all over the country to work this Series were in love with our little yard. I have been saying for years that the Giants home park was my favorite place in the big leagues to work as a photographer, and thankfully everyone who works at the park has been so friendly and the Giants organization has come through beautifully making this one of the easiest World Series we have ever worked. There are so many nooks and crannies to shoot from, both on the field level and upstairs that many shooters are coming up with some fun and unique angles to make some nice pictures from.

I was able to shoot Game 2 from a super cool spot that I worked from last week for Sports Illustrated when the Phillies were in town. The Giants created a brand-new shooting position from inside the Lexus Dugout Club just to the first base side of home plate at ground level. I simply set a small chair in an isle right up against the netting and worked the game from this spectacular angle as I was surrounded by fans who paid thousands of dollars for their amazing seats. Me? I was PAID to be there!

Many folks were freaked out by forecasts of rain for the ballgame, but all we got were some of the most amazing clouds I have ever seen in the Bay Area. The cool clouds, combined with the fun, low-to-the-ground shooting position made for some pretty wide-angle pictures during the game as the sky grew darker and darker as the game progressed.

Like Game 1 there was not much action tonight, especially when you factor in the 100 or so walks the Rangers bullpen issued to the orange and black. The highlight of the game for me was when new fan-favorite Cody Ross slid home with the second run of the game on Jose Uribe’s run-scoring single in the bottom of the 7th inning. At the time it was a huge run as the Giants were clinging to a 1-0 lead before this hit by Uribe. Ross styled into home plate with a flying feet-first slide and made me a very happy photographer (see top).

Now it is on to Dallas for a long weekend of baseball with the next three games coming up at the Rangers home yard in Texas. I am excited to see their park in Arlington as I have never been there and will be able to cross a new stadium off my list. This will start feeling more like the World Series for me as I will be on the road staying in a hotel and being chauffeured around the Dallas area by my boss Rich Pilling. A car is picking me up in 4.5 hours for my 7:15am flight out of San Francisco. I need to get some sleep!