Power Ranking the 10 Best Performances of the 2012 Championship Series

With the lineup of the 2012 fall classic finally set, two teams now have just four wins standing in their way of a World Series championship.

Baseball may be a team game, but neither the Detroit Tigers nor San Francisco Giants could have gotten there without strong individual performances along the way.

Only two teams are moving forward, but all four teams in this year's championship series boasted a great deal of talent that showed itself in a number of different ways.

With that, here are some of the best outings that this year's ALCS and NLCS matchups had to offer.

10. Matt Carpenter, NLCS Game 3

After seeing Carlos Beltran forced to leave Game 3 of the NLCS early on, Cardinals first baseman Matt Carpenter stepped up in a big way, giving a performance that surprised many.

Carpenter drove in two runs that proved to be the difference in the Cardinals' 3-1 victory and would reach base three more times in Game 4, scoring two runs.

9. Delmon Young, ALCS Game 1

Though it would be after Game 4 that Delmon Young would hoist the ALCS MVP hardware, it was in Game 1 that he got things rolling for the Detroit Tigers.

Young's 3-for-6 night that included three RBI was vital to the Tigers' win, as his eighth-inning home run would prove to be all that much more important given the four runs that the Yankees put up in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game.

8. Hunter Pence, NLCS Game 7

In what would prove to be a deciding moment in Game 7 of the NLCS, Hunter Pence's broken-bat double would clear the bases and give the Giants a 5-0 lead in the third inning, something that proved to be too much to handle.

7. Adam Wainwright, NLCS Game 4

After putting a less-than-stellar performance on the table in Game 5 of the NLDS, Adam Wainwright had plenty to prove as he took to the mound in Game 4 of the NLCS.

Pitching seven innings of four-hit baseball, Wainwright struck out five Giants and didn't allow a walk, and holding them to one earned run would prove to be the difference in the Cardinals' 8-3 win.

6. Justin Verlander, ALCS Game 3

Anyone that could have questioned Justin Verlander's playoff abilities has likely been silenced after the efforts that the Tigers' ace has put forth this postseason.

His 8.1 inning outing in Game 3 showed just how dominating he can be when he's at his best, as he allowed only three hits to the Yankee offense, including a ninth-inning home run, propelling the Tigers to a 2-1 victory and a chance to allow Max Scherzer to complete the sweep.

5. Drew Smyly, ALCS Game 1

Every player who plays for a team heading to the postseason will inevitably have to make his debut at some point, but not all of them come into a game with as much on the line as Drew Smyly faced in Game 1.

After the Yankees came back from a 6-2 deficit in the ninth inning, momentum could have been in New York's favor, but Smyly came in and pitched a clean 11th and 12th inning, allowing only one hit while earning the win.

4. Anibal Sanchez, ALCS Game 2

Coming off a Game 1 that saw the Detroit Tigers' bullpen taken to the limit, it was extremely important for Anibal Sanchez to put forth a strong effort that ate up as many innings as possible.

He would live up to the billing, throwing seven innings of three-hit baseball while striking out seven Yankees and walking only three before giving way to Phil Coke to close out the 3-0 victory.

3. Barry Zito, NLCS Game 5

Having not entirely lived up to the expectations set forth for him when he signed his massive contract with the Giants, Barry Zito took a big step toward atoning for any missteps.

With the Giants seeing their backs somewhat against the wall, Zito held the Cardinals offense in check for most of the evening, allowing only six hits in 7.2 innings while striking out six and walking only one en route to a 5-0 victory.

2. Ryan Vogelsong, NLCS Game 6

With no room for error in Game 6 of the NLCS, Giants starter Ryan Vogelsong had a tall order in front of him as he took the mound in front of the home fans.

His seven innings of four-hit baseball would prove to play a huge role in the Giants' move to a decisive Game 7, as he would allow only one run before turning the game over to the bullpen in a 6-1 victory.

1. Max Scherzer, ALCS Game 4

With a chance to sweep the Yankees out of the postseason in his hands, Max Scherzer came through in a big way for the Tigers.

He would only go 5.2 innings in the 8-1 victory for the Tigers, but every one of his 98 pitches was thrown with purpose as he struck out 10 Yankees and allowed only two hits, giving the Tigers a few days off as they awaited their World Series opponent.