Giants’ Cody Ross is latest Mr. October

From San Francisco —  Barry Bonds bounded out of the dugout, skipping across the grass, throwing his arms toward the sky, blowing kisses to an adoring crowd.

J.T. Snow preceded him onto the field, as did Shawon Dunston and Robb Nen. It was 2002 all over again, and we couldn’t help thinking of Scott Spiezio.

Spiezio drove a stake into the heart of San Francisco in that 2002 World Series, on behalf of the Angels.

Bonds had two decades in the spotlight. Spiezio had a month. And now, with San Francisco six victories from its first World Series championship, the Giants have their own version of Spiezio, a guy by the name of Cody Ross.

Spiezio never batted .300 in a season, or hit 20 home runs, or drove in 100 runs. But he drove in 19 runs in that magical October 2002, tying a postseason record.

In Game 1 of this National League Championship Series, Ross homered twice against Philadelphia Phillies ace Roy Halladay. In Game 2, Ross homered against Roy Oswalt. Postseason home runs by the Giants: Ross 4, Everyone Else 1.

In Game 3, Ross singled against Cole Hamels, driving in the winning run. Each of his last six hits have tied the score or given the Giants the lead.

“He’s the hottest hitter in the world,” San Francisco first baseman Aubrey Huff said.

The orange-clad rooters had chanted “Bar-ry! Bar-ry!” They also chanted “Co-dy! Co-dy!”

“It’s an easy name to chant. That’s probably why,” Ross said. “It’s two syllables.”

So is this: Be gone.

The Detroit Tigers needed an extra reliever, so they traded Ross to the Dodgers, for a guy whose career ended with one victory and no saves.

The Dodgers needed a roster spot for an extra infielder, so they traded Ross to the Cincinnati Reds for a minor league reliever.

The Reds sold him to the Florida Marlins.

The Marlins let him go to the Giants on waivers.

“Hearing that they gave me away for nothing, well, it didn’t settle with me very well,” Ross said. “But let bygones be bygones. I’m in a way better place.”

For this, he can thank Tony Gwynn Jr.

After Gwynn broke a hand in August, the San Diego Padres needed an outfielder. The Giants claimed Ross on waivers, mostly so the Padres would not get him. The frugal Marlins, presented with a chance to save $1 million in salary, happily surrendered Ross to the Giants.

The Padres surrendered the NL West to the Giants. Jose Guillen came down with a sore neck and a cold bat. Ross took over right field for the playoffs and immortalized himself.

“It’s kind of crazy the way my career has ended up,” he said. “I wouldn’t change any of that, because I think that’s made me the person that I am today. Never give up.”

Hamels came up with what might be the Phillies’ best shot at stopping Ross: “Hit him.”

Hamels was kidding, but the cameras were rolling.

“I hope he doesn’t hear this,” Hamels said.

But come on. Hamels throws a fastball low and away, exactly where he wants it, and Ross golfs it into left field.

“He’s been battling and hitting pitches that most normal people can’t hit at this time,” Hamels said. “If he can hit that through the regular season, we’ll be very impressed.”

If a hitter is foolish enough to swing at that pitch, and doubly foolish to try to pull it, you can almost always write 5-3 in your scorebook. Most hitters take the pitch, Hamels said.

“He’s right,” Ross said. “It was probably a pitch that I probably shouldn’t have swung at. That’s what happens when you’re swinging the bat well or feeling good.”

Ross keeps a framed jersey of every team for which he has played, even the Dodgers, for whom he once drove in seven runs in a game.

“And still they got rid of me,” he said, smiling.

Ross called his October adventure an “unbelievable experience” and an “unbelievable ride.”

In October immortality, he has lost his anonymity. Will Clark, the former Giants star, shouted at Ross as a gaggle of reporters followed him out of the home clubhouse.

“Cody, don’t stop,” Clark said. “They might run over you.”

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