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MLB MLB PlayoffsSan Francisco Giants

Brandon Crawford’s Bat Drives Stake Through Pittsburgh Pirates’ Hearts

Brandon Crawford Giants

Charles LeClaire — USA TODAY Sports

If you follow college baseball, you may be aware San Francisco Giants infielder Brandon Crawford and Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole were once teammates at UCLA.

In fact, Crawford’s sister and Cole are dating — a further sign of the closeness between the two.

All’s fair in love, but it sure isn’t fair in baseball if you are the Pirates right about now.

With one swing of his bat, Crawford drove a stake through the hearts of Pirates fans everywhere, smoking a grand slam off Pirates pitcher Edinson Volquez, as the Giants scored an 8-0 shutout victory.

There would be no long run for the Pirates this season. There would be no chance for the Pirates to show off how enthusiastic they were to be in the playoffs once again.

For the Giants, it was their turn to show off.

Last season was best forgotten by Giants fans. After they won the 2012 World Series, the Giants regressed all the way to fourth place in their own division with a 76-86 record. Dreams of the pennant seemed so far away for a team that had won two of the last three World Series titles, including a 2010 victory.

The one that swung the mighty bat wasn’t necessarily the best player on his own team, but he flashed signs of brilliance. In an eerie sign of things to come, Crawford hit a grand slam in his first major league game — not bad for a player that grew up in the suburban town of Pleasanton outside of San Francisco.

You can say this was a hometown boy that did his team proud on Wednesday.

Crawford’s best batting average came last season, when he hit .248. His most home runs came this season, when he hit 10 to help the Giants win the wild card. Against Pittsburgh this season, Crawford hit a measly .200.

It is funny how one swing can erase all of those stats.

With that one swing, Crawford joined the likes of Willie Mays, Will Clark, Barry Bonds and other Giants to make their postseason presence known.

Maybe someday, if Crawford marries Cole’s sister, he can tell the children how his one swing propelled the Giants to victory.

Crawford will get a dirty look from Cole, but all’s fair in love and family.