Morning Marquee: Travis Ishikawa hits walk-off for Giants; 3rd NL pennant in five years

If the playoffs so far have been any indication, this World Series could be one for the ages. Travis Ishikawas‘s three-run walk-off blast in the ninth ignited AT&T Park, and sent the San Francisco Giants to their third WS in five years. They’re two-for-two with wins in 2010 and 2012.

The victory set up a battle between two teams that were supposed to be “just stopping by”. But these two Wild Card teams didn’t get that memo. This is the first time that under the new format–which started in 2012–that the two World Series teams survived three rounds of playoffs.

Madison Bumgarner took home NLCS MVP honors, and there was no one more deserving. While Ishikawa’s home run will be the talk at the water cooler, MadBum put on another pitching clinic in October. Something that’s becoming the norm. He’s the first Giants pitcher to ever win the award, which says a lot with the pitching they’ve had over the years.

The St. Louis Cardinals made him look mortal early, before he and Adam Wainwright turned the game into a pitcher’s duel after the fourth. That led to the late inning heroics from Ishikawa that helped claim an NL-leading 20th pennant for the Giants.

The 110th World Series will open Tuesday at Kauffman Stadium thanks to the 5-3 victory the AL had in the All-Star game.

In Chicago, the renovation has begun at Wrigley Field. Construction crews have started on the bleacher walls, as they expand them onto neighboring street. This is the first phase of the $575 million privately funded project, known as the 1060 Project.

Here’s what you need to know from yesterday..

‘Wrigley Field renovations begin; bleacher demolition underway’ – Cubbies Crib

‘Giants advance to World Series-Ishikawa leads walk-off’ – Around the Foghorn

‘Jeff Bannister to be name new manager of the Texas Rangers’ – Call to the Pen

‘Bumgarner earns NLCS MVP honors’ – MLB.com

‘Lorenzo Cain turned the postseason into his coming out party’ – Kings of Kauffman