One minute I was crouched in front of the TV screen cheering on the giants - the next - shaking my head in disbelief.
What just happened?
In the final analysis, sloppy ball-playing finally caught up with the giants - at which point - Lincecum and Cody Ross meekly limped off the field to lick their wounds.
There weren't any deafening roars from the stands last night.
Not even a whimper.
Outside, reporters glumly noted that the mood was ugly, too.
“There were a few long faces. And, quite a bit of cussing."
The failed clincher brought a whole new meaning to the term "the finger".
One aggressive fan thrust his face into camera and made a vow.
“We’re going to Philly to bust some ass.”
The managers - and the players - remained optimistic.
Tim Lincecum confided that he didn’t feel comfortable with his pitching until the 4th inning.
In spite of that, he noted that he felt good about his rhythm.
“I tried to mix things up. Used sliders. And, there were a couple of lucky strikes,” he recalled solemnly, without grumbling, in spite of the fact sports analysts were blaming the loss on poor defense and a failure on part of giants to play crisp.
Baseball reporters rallied behind Tim, though.
“He performed better tonight than in the 1st game,” one reporter exalted.
When asked about the challenge ahead, the "freak" - as he is affectionately known - was confident all the way (just maybe he's a good actor with a convincing poker face?).
Meanwhile, throughout the day, the bustling downtown streets were awash in orange and black.
Fans - who were polled in the streets impromptu - admitted there was an undeniable chemistry between the players which was inspiring
"The Giants have that intangible something," one resident conjectured.
Two cops noted that they got caught up in the hysteria surrounding Giant "fever", too.
Failing to spy the ubiquitous Halloween colors, a reporter was inclined to hazard a guess, that the otherwise talkative men-in-blue were sporting boxers patterned in appropriate motifs beneath their uniforms.
"We're on duty, so he can't say anything," they chuckled with devilish grins on their mugs.
Locals gave Kudos to the Giants for leaving their egos at the gate.
"No one is a superstar on this team. It's a collective effort," one sports enthusiast observed.
To many, they're true underdogs, in every sense of the term.
So, the town is rooting for 'em.
“I feel we're ok. If we do things right next game. And, the balls fall our way," Linescum summed up.
Tensions were high throughout the game.
In fact, one heated back-and-forth exchange - between Halladay and a team mate - underscored the obvious.
There was a lot of testosterone surging in the ranks.
Doc (Halladay) stood his ground.
Though his baseball cap was pulled down tight over his forehead and eyes - effectively hiding emotions lurking underneath - he was still an awesome study.
As the seasoned pro scanned the terrain, it was obvious to anyone with a keen eye, that Halladay was at the top of his game.
Fans and sports enthusiasts were inclined to size up both of the pitchers side-by-side.
“Halladay gets a ‘w’ on the scorecard,” one news anchor conceded.
But, no one blamed Tim for the dribbles, the club manager labeled unfortunate mistakes.
“It wasn’t exactly crisp.”
But, he asserted the team was resilient.
“Philly is tough,” he acknowledged, on the heels of noting that the giants were keenly aware of that fact.
To fans, they’re the underdogs, who have pulled together as a team.
“A couple of ball players on the old team only cared about money,” one animated fan accused.
The giants have an intangible something that has rustled up widespread enthusiasm and support.
“People I used to pass in the elevator with heads down, showed up today in orange and black, with rally caps and rally towels,” another upbeat local noted proudly.
At club, and trendy watering holes around town, the mood was still optimistic.
“It would be great to have a game without all the tension.
That’s the nature of the beast, eh?
It didn’t escape anyone’s attention that the play-offs were a big boost to the local economy.
"So, let it play out, for that reason alone."
“An emotional roller coaster ride”- best described - how most fans felt about the torture they endured to the bitter end last night.
If you were looking for an intense nail biter to sink your teeth into, this was it, for sure.
In fact one astute observer referred to fans as the tenth player.
Most agree, for sure, that the Giants have brought the community together.
“They’re hungry for a winner.”
A whole generation has never experienced or witnessed a world series win.
Actually, I spied folks catching the game in the busy rush-hour on TV sets in the windows of electronic stores along bustling Market Street.
The loss last night - a score of 3-2 in favor of the Phillies - means much of the same on Saturday.
More so, because the game takes place on Philadelphia turf.
Will the giants be forced to play out a 7th game at the AT& T Stadium next week?.
If so, fans will be there, raucously cheering the Giants on.
Time to cinch it , at long last, eh?
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