Going, going ... Shawon!

Dunston's second homer of season breaks scoreless tie

Super sub: Shawon Dunston had only six postseason at-bats before his Game 6 homer. AP

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Shawon Dunston shared one of the most special moments in his long baseball career with his bat boy son, kissing Shawon Jr. as they stood at home plate.

An unlikely star for the San Francisco Giants, the reserve outfielder stepped across the plate after his two-run homer in Game 6 of the World Series on Saturday night -- and the 9-year-old boy was already there to greet him.

"You always dream about hitting a home run in the World Series," Dunston said. "To have your son their waiting at the plate for you makes it even more special."

Dunston believes he can play baseball into his 40s, and he showed the world why. Yet his big hit wasn't enough, as the Giants' bullpen allowed the Anaheim Angels to come back for a 6-5 victory. The deciding Game 7 is Sunday.

Starting as the designated hitter, the 39-year-old Dunston drove a 1-1 pitch from right-hander Kevin Appier over the low fence in the left-field corner to break a scoreless tie in the fifth inning.

Dunston flied out to right in the third and popped out to shortstop in the seventh, then was removed for a pinch-hitter in the ninth with the Giants trailing.

CNNSI.com's John Donovan Viewpoint: This latest comeback by the Angels was so good, they even left themselves in awe. Closer Look: Scott Spiezio turned the game -- and perhaps the Series -- around with an amazing at-bat that resulted in a three-run home run. Comeback kids Click the image to launch the clip The Angels are very familiar with the concept of the late-inning rally. Start Manager Mike Scioscia would prefer to not to have to count on a rally every now and again. Darin Erstad claims that homering wasn't what he had in mind when he stepped to the plate in the eighth. Troy Glaus believes that when the World Series comes down to one game, momentum goes out the window. Video Plus Visit Video Plus for the latest video and audio. HEROES & GOATS HERO GOAT Rally Monkey S.F. bullpen Barring another miracle in Game 7, this was the little guy's finest hour. Four relievers combined to allow four runs, three earned, in 1 2/3 innings. BY THE NUMBERS 5 Comeback wins this postseason for the Anaheim Angels, including Games 2 and 6 of the World Series. All five have come at Edison Field. 7 Consecutive World Series Game 7s won by the home team. The 1979 Pirates were the last road team to win a Game 7. 19 RBIs in the postseason for Scott Spiezio, tying the record set by Sandy Alomar with Cleveland in 1997.

While he was rounding the bases following the homer, his son ran out of the dugout to greet his dad at home. They hit fists to celebrate, then Dunston kissed the boy. The Giants have prided themselves on their family atmosphere, and this was just one of many special moments between father and son this season.

The hit was one of the highlights of Dunston's 18-year career. "My biggest thrill was being a major leaguer and stepping on the field for the first time at Wrigley Field," he said.

Not many would have predicted Dunston to be the one to shine in this game.

The homer was his first since he hit one as a pinch-hitter on April 15 at San Diego, and that was his only one of the year in 147 at-bats.

Before Saturday, he had only nine at-bats the entire postseason, hadn't scored a run and had driven in only one.

Yet Dunston, in his third stint with the Giants, said before the game he isn't ready to call it a career -- even if he went out with a World Series ring.

"I still want to play, but I'm just going to talk to my wife and kids and leave it up to them," Dunston said. "I'm not sure they really want me to be home yet."

Dunston was the No. 1 overall draft pick by the Chicago Cubs out of Brooklyn's Thomas Jefferson High School in 1982. A strong-armed shortstop, he hit .790 his senior year and was 37-for-37 on steals playing in the very part of New York some Giants fans surely still hate.

The rivalry between the Giants and Dodgers began in New York and moved to California in 1958.

Dwight Gooden was the No. 5 pick in the same draft by the Mets, and the old joke was, why did the Cubs pick Dunston over Gooden?

The answer? Dunston had a better arm.

Dunston made his major league debut in 1985 as a shortstop for the Cubs, and has played for six teams.

This year, he was a candidate to be released several times as the Giants shuffled their lineup in the second half of the season, but manager Dusty Baker and general manager Brian Sabean stuck by him.

"That's up to him if he wants to continue to play, or if he has a place to play," Baker said before Saturday's game. "What's made him good is that he stays prepared, he still thinks he can play, and he can. That's where it starts. Nobody has to tell you when you're through because you know when you're through."

When he joined the Giants for the second time in 1998 after starting the year in Cleveland, Dunston was frustrated he wasn't in the lineup a little more.

Baker set him straight.

"I was a starter my whole career," Dunston said. "I had long talks with Dusty about why I'm not playing. He told me stories, 'You're not Willie Mays, you're not Hank Aaron, Willie Stargell, Mickey Mantle.' He went on and on, all these Hall of Famers. I said 'What are you getting at?' He said 'You're nowhere near them.' It really hit home.

"The one thing that Dusty said was 'Until you accept your role, you'll never like it. When you accept it, then you'll be a good one.' Right now, I'm really enjoying it."

 

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