San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - The San Francisco Giants weren't about to
experience another slow start. Pablo Sandoval made sure of it. The All-Star
slugger tied a World Series record by socking three home runs as the Giants
gained the upper hand in the 2012 Fall Classic with a convincing 8-3 win over
the Detroit Tigers in Game 1 from AT&T Park. Sandoval delivered a solo
homer off Justin Verlander in the bottom of the first inning, a two-run
blast against the Detroit ace in the third, and connected off reliever
Al Alburquerque in the fifth to become only the third player in World Series
history to go deep three times in a single game -- and first to do so in his
first three at-bats. The third baseman, who finished 4-for-4 with four RBI,
joins some very select company, with Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson and Albert
Pujols the only ones to previously accomplish the feat. Ruth did it in both
the 1926 and '28 World Series, Jackson in the 1977 edition and Pujols
during the St. Louis Cardinals' victory over the Texas Rangers in last
year's Game 3. Marco Scutaro, the MVP of the Giants' come-from-behind
triumph over the Cardinals in the National League Championship Series, kept
up his own torrid hitting by collecting two singles and two RBI, while
Barry Zito and Tim Lincecum helped maintain the momentum by teaming up for
eight strong innings. Zito (1-0) held the Tigers to one run on six hits and a
walk over the first 5 2/3 frames, with Lincecum striking out five over 2 1/3
perfect innings after taking over for his fellow former Cy Young Award
recipient. Detroit swept the scuffling New York Yankees in the ALCS and had
not played since last Thursday. The Tigers seemed to feel the effects of the
extended layoff, falling behind 6-0 after five innings and receiving a subpar
stint from Verlander (0-1). The 2011 AL MVP lasted just four innings in his
shortest outing of the season and was tagged for five runs and six hits.
Jhonny Peralta had a two-run homer for Detroit, which had won five in a row
dating back to Game 5 of the ALDS, with Austin Jackson and ALCS hero Delmon
Young each contributing two hits in a losing cause. Game 2 will take place
Thursday in San Francisco, with Madison Bumgarner getting the call for the
Giants and the Tigers countering with Doug Fister.
The Sports Network