ArizonaLeague.com

Giants Win 2005 Arizona League Championship

At the start of a Sunday night doubleheader on August 28, 2005 with the Scottsdale Giants, the Peoria Mariners appeared to be in the driver's seat to win the the 2005 second half crown.  The Mariners held a one-game lead over the Giants with only three games remaining.

To clinch a berth in the Arizona League championship game on August 31, all the Mariners needed to do was to win two of their final three games.

But the Giants dashed the M's hopes and put a quick end to the Arizona League championship race by sweeping the doubleheader by scores of 6-1 and 8-2 to clinch at least a tie for the second-half crown.

And a second-half tie was all the Giants needed to win their second straight Arizona League championship.

The Giants, winners of the first half, knew going into the twin bill with the Mariners that they held the upper hand on the tiebreaker--best record in the regular season series.  By sweeping the Mariners, the Giants won five out of seven contest from the Mariners.

The only other remaining rival for the AzL second half title--the Phoenix Athletics--trailed the Giants by one game at the end of play on August 28. But the Giants also won the season series from the Athletics by winning four out of six games.

So when Giants reliever Gregorio Martinez recorded the final out against the Mariners on August 28, he did a back flip on the mound, his teammates rushed the field, Giants manager Burt Hunter got the obligatory Gatorade shower, and the Scottsdale Giants became the 2005 Arizona League champions.

Because the Giants won both halves, there was no need for championship game in 2005.