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BY DAVID DRIVER D URING THE NON-WAIVER trade deadline in July 2010, the Pittsburgh Pirates — in the midst of another losing sea- son — decided to trade left- handed reliever Javier Lopez. The former UVA standout was sent to the San Francisco Giants for John Bowker and Joe Martinez — hardly household names. "They took a chance on me," Lopez said of the Giants. "It was a great opportunity for me to come from Pittsburgh. [The Pirates] are not the team now they were then." Three months later, the Giants won their first World Series since moving to Califor- nia and Lopez, a lefty specialist, played a key role. He allowed just one run in nine postseason outings, picking up a win against the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Championship Series and not allow- ing a run in two World Series games against the Texas Rangers. "I had a chance early and was able to take full advantage of it," said Lopez, now 39, standing in the Giants clubhouse during a road series in Washington this summer. "It worked out great. I think everyone that comes here understands you have to help us win ballgames. "You figure out where you slot in and go to work." Lopez was also part of World Series winners with the Giants in 2012 and 2014. Throw in the ring he won with the Boston Red Sox in 2007, and he was the only active player in the majors this season who had won four World Series titles. "This has been a very unique experience," said Lopez, who made his big league debut with Colorado in 2003. "Prior to last year, there were just four of us from the 2010 [Gi- ants] team. It is a special thing. I really take a lot of pride in it. "I will take more pride in it when I am sitting on my couch [after retirement]. We have been blessed; we have won three titles in that time. You hope that it continues." Lopez was one of just three former Cava- liers to play in the majors his rookie year of 2003, along with pitcher Seth Greisinger and outfielder Brian Buchanan — both of whom are long since retired. (Buchanan, who grew up in Northern Virginia, was a hitting coach at the Double-A level this year in the Kansas City Royals system.) But that number of big leaguers increased to 11 this season, with Lopez as the only member of both groups. The influx of ex- Wahoos in "The Show" is another testament to the success head coach Brian O'Connor has brought to Charlottesville since his ar- rival more than a decade ago. Another former Virginia player with the Giants this year is outfielder Jarrett Parker, who was drafted by the club in the second round in 2010 and made his MLB debut in 2015. He is one of several former Virginia players who return to Charlottesville in the offseason to work out with former Cavaliers now in pro ball. Parker, who hit three homers in a game for the Giants in September 2015, split this season between the Giants and Triple-A Sacramento of the Pacific Coast League this summer. Parker, a left-handed hitter, clubbed five homers in his first 47 games with the Giants this season and was part of the franchise's playoff push this September. "It is a packed house every time we play," Parker said before a home game this sum- mer. "It is exciting, that is for darn sure. I definitely enjoy the California lifestyle. San Francisco has a lot to offer."