Who is Cody Ross?

Saturday's huge win in Philadelphia came courtesy of the arms of a key franchise player named Tim Lincecum and a new guy the team picked up on wavers named Cody Ross.

Lincecum is probably the most recognized member of the Giants, but Ross has only been wearing orange and black since August.

Ross, 29,  played most of the season for the Florida Marlins.  After they cut him, the Giants picked him up. The move was seen as protective so that the San Diego Padres couldn't get him. The rest, as they say, is history.

That history includes Ross playing a key role in the Giants' final win against the Atlanta Braves last weekend. He hit a home run to break up Derek Lowe’s no-hitter in the 6th inning at Turner Field. He also delivered the go-ahead run in the 7th.

Fast forward to last night. This time the city was Philadelphia against pitching ace Roy Halladay who had retired his first seven hitters.  Up to the plate steps Ross hitting in the eighth spot. Ross knocked in a homer and put the Giants ahead 1-0.  Ross came back in the fifth to hit a second home run.  He also played great defense getting to a well-hit ball in the first inning that if missed could have meant extra bases for the Phillies.

"It's just awesome to be in this situation right now, to be able to come here and help this team where it wanted to be," Ross said following the game.

So the Giants and their fans have a new hero.  Ross is a New Mexico native who has played for the Tigers, the Dodgers, the Red and the Marlins before coming to San Francisco.  He is ending his 2010 season in the post-season and that is surely a surprise to a man who was looking at the end of his career just a couple months ago.

The following quote from Ross prior to Saturday's game shows he came into the series confident:

"You don't really fear any team. As a player you always feel like you're better than teams and you have to have that sort of mentality that you can go in there and beat them two out of three during the season, but knowing in the back of your mind that they're a really good team. They've had their struggles, though. They had a tough time scoring runs throughout the year at one point. It's going to be a dog fight. Both teams have really good pitching staffs and both teams have guys who can really swing the bat. I think it's going to be an amazing series."

We'll have to see if manager Bruce Bochy keeps Ross so deep in the line up at the No. 8 spot for Sunday's game No. 2 against the Phillies.  First pitch is 5:19 p.m. and we'll see pitcher Jonathon Sanchez on the hill against the Phillies' Roy Oswalt.

Lori Preuitt also found out that Ross is one of the rare players who bats right handed and throws left handed, but she couldn't find a place to put that fact in this article.
 

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