Giants tame Tigers, Take 2-0 lead to Detroit

Game 1: Pandamonium - Prior to Game 1 of the World Series, pundits gave the San Francisco Giants little chance against the reigning AL Cy Young & MVP Justin Verlander and predicted the Detroit Tigers would make quick work of game 1 starter Barry Zito. Little did they know the exact opposite would take place. Having won Zito's last 13 starts, it was thought that the Giants would have their work cut out for them if they planned to make it 14, but a guy who goes by the nickname 'Kung-Fu Panda' would prove otherwise. Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval who was left off of the postseason roster in 2010 alongside Zito when the Giants brought their first World Series title back to the city by the bay, made up for lost time with two home runs in his first two at-bats versus Tigers ace Justin Verlander who also surrendered a bases-clearing triple to Sandoval in July's All-Star Game which awarded the Giants home-field advantage in this year's Fall Classic.

Sandoval's home run in the first inning which came on an 0-2 pitch and gave the Giants an early 1-0 lead was the first homer Verlander had allowed in an 0-2 count this season. Sandoval's heroics would continue just two innings later when Angel Pagan sparked a 2-out rally in the third with a double that appeared to be on its way to the glove of Miguel Cabrera but instead bounced off the third base bag and rolled into the outfield. Marco Scutaro drove in the game's second run by lacing an RBI single up the middle, bringing Sandoval to the plate a chance to cause more damage. Two pitches later he would do just that, sending a 2-0 pitch over the left field fence for an opposite-field home run, giving the Giants a 4-0 lead and causing Verlander to mouth the words, "Wow." Verlander's rough outing would continue in the fourth as Brandon Belt led the inning off with a walk and later scored on a single off the bat of Barry Zito as the Giants became the first team in postseason history to have their pitcher drive in a run in four consecutive games.

With Verlander's night coming to an early end after being roughed up for five earned runs on six hits and a walk through four innings, his shortest outing of the season, Sandoval's dominance at the plate would continue as he greeted Tigers reliever Al Alburquerque who came in for Verlander by hitting his third home run of the ballgame. With his trio of long balls, Sandoval became only the fourth player to ever hit three home runs in a World Series game, joining the likes of Babe Ruth who accomplished the feat twice, Reggie Jackson and Albert Pujols who did it in last year's World Series. Sandoval, however, was the only player to do it in his first three plate appearances. Sandoval would finish the game 4-for-4 by adding a single in the seventh. Detroit's only runs would come in the form of an RBI single from Miguel Cabrera off Zito in the sixth and a 2-run home run from Jhonny Peralta off George Kontos in the ninth. RBI singles from Scutaro and Buster Posey in the seventh would round up the scoring for the Giants who would go on to take game 1 by a final of 8-3.

Game 2: Bumgarner outduels Fister - With the Tigers allowing more runs in game 1 of the World Series than they allowed in the entire ALCS against the Yankees (six), they'd turn to pitcher Doug Fister in game 2, hoping to calm the Giants bats and avoid heading to Detroit down 0-2. And with the Tigers going up against Madison Bumgarner who entered Thursday's game having struggled of late with an ERA north of 11.00, many expected Detroit to bounce back and even the series. Bumgarner, however, would have other plans, challenging Fister to a duel. Fister who entered the game with an ERA under 2.00 this postseason, would pitch as good as advertised, but would be outdone on this night.

Shutout only twice during the regular season, a league-low, Bumgarner would stifle the Tigers lineup by allowing only 2 hits and 2 walks while striking out 8 over seven stellar frames, proving too much for Jim Leyland's ball club. Detroit's only chance to plate a run came in the second inning when Prince Fielder was hit by a pitch and tried scoring from first on a Delmon Young double to left field. Gregor Blanco fielded the ball and luckily overthrew the cutoff man Brandon Crawford, hitting Marco Scutaro who made the catch and rifled a strike to Buster Posey who tagged the sliding Fielder just in time before touching home. Fister would overcome a scary moment in the second inning when taking a line drive off the side of his head that Blanco reached to first on for a single. Fister would prove to be fine, retiring 12 of the next 13 batters he faced.

With the game still scoreless heading to the bottom of the seventh inning, the Giants would get their first chance at a big inning after Hunter Pence, Brandon Belt and Gregor Blanco all reached base with a single, a walk and a bunt. With Brandon Crawford stepping to the plate, Tigers reliever Drew Smyly limited the damage by getting the Giants shortstop to ground into a double-play as a run came in to score. The Giants would execute a bit of small ball to plate another run in the eight inning as Angel Pagan, Pablo Sandoval and Buster Posey all drew walks, setting up Hunter Pence who hit a sacrifice fly to right field to give his team a 2-0 lead heading to the ninth inning. A shutout eight inning from Giants reliever Santiago Casilla would setup the bearded Sergio Romo who slammed the door on any chance of a Tigers rally by hurling a 1-2-3 ninth inning, sealing the 2-0 victory and giving the Giants their fifth straight postseason win, a franchise-record in which they've only allowed a total of 4-runs.

Unfortunately for the Tigers who hope a trip to Detroit will help summon their offense, 41 of the 52 teams who've taken a 2-0 lead in the World Series have gone on to win it all. But to their credit, the Tigers are yet to lose at home this postseason, where they currently boast a 4-0 record. The Giants, however, are the perfect team to put an end to that streak as they've proven during this postseason that they're even better when playing on the road. The only difference being they'll have to emulate their play under American League rules, using a designated-hitter which Giants skipper Bruce Bochy will most likely hand the reigns to backup catcher Hector Sanchez. And similar to game 2, game 3 could very well be another low-scoring affair not only because of who will be on the mound for each team, but because the weather forecast is expected to be in the low 40's. While the Giants hope to ride the arm of Ryan Vogelsong who's been arguably their best pitcher this postseason, the Tigers will look to mid-season acquisition Anibal Sanchez who in the past has been tough on the Giants during his days with the Marlins. And though I expect Detroit to have much better luck at home than they did on the road, I'm sticking with my prediction of the Giants winning it all in six games.


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Giants complete Comeback, Prepare to face off vs Tigers in Fall Classic

Two years removed from winning their first World Series title in 56 years and a year removed from failing to make it to the postseason, the San Francisco Giants are heading back to the Fall Classic after one of the more improbable playoff runs in recent memory. Last night's Game 7 victory over the defending World Champion St. Louis Cardinals only added to what the Giants have done all postseason long -- winning with their backs against the wall. After becoming the first team to ever overcome a 2 games to 0 deficit and win three straight games on the road in the new Division Series playoff format against the Cincinnati Reds, the Giants continued their postseason magic. 

Down 3 games to 1 in a pivotal game 5 at St. Louis' Busch Stadium, the unlikeliest hero Barry Zito hurled a superb 7 2/3 innings of shutout baseball to keep the Giants alive and send the series back to San Francisco for game 6. With a win the following night, the Giants set up a winner-take-all game 7 in which they had all the momentum coming in. History, however, would be on the Cardinals side. While St. Louis entered Monday's meeting winners of 11 elimination game 7's, good enough for the most all-time, the Giants on the other hand came in owning a league worst record of 0-5 all-time in game 7's. But like the saying goes, there's a first for everything. The San Francisco offense would prove just that by scoring runs in each of the first two innings before chasing Cardinals ace Kyle Lohse after only 2 frames in which he was tagged for 5 runs. By the end of the third inning the Giants were up 7 to 0 and never looked back. At San Francisco's AT&T Park, facing All-Star pitcher Matt Cain with a 7-run deficit, St. Louis had no chance to work the magic we've grown accustomed to seeing them pull off dating back to last year's World Series.

With the 9-0 victory, the Giants became only the third NL team to comeback from a 3 games to 1 deficit and go on to win the series and only the second team in MLB history to win six consecutive elimination games, tying the 1985 Kansas City Royals who won the World Series that year. Giants second baseman Marco Sctuaro would make some history of his own by being named NLCS MVP after batting .500 (14-for-28) in the series, setting an LCS record with 6 multi-hit games and becoming one of only two players to follow up a 20-game hit streak during the regular season with a 10-game hit streak during the postseason in the same year (Mike Piazza being the other in 2002 with the Mets). What's most baffling about the Giants' epic NLCS comeback is that Buster Posey was virtually a non-factor at the plate. That'll have to change, however, if the Giants plan to win their second Championship in three years as they set their sights on the Jim Leyland led Detroit Tigers who are coming off an impressive sweep of the New York Yankees and are seeking their first World Series title since 1984.

Just like they were in 2010 when they upset the Texas Rangers, the Giants will once again be the underdogs facing an offensive juggernaut this time in the form of the Detroit Tigers' lethal duo of this year's triple crown winner -- Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder. Not to be forgotten is ALCS MVP Delmon Young who always seems to come through at the plate during the postseason. Facing one of the games premiere pitchers in Cliff Lee who San Francisco beat not once, but twice in the 2010 Fall Classic, Giants hitters will face another tall order and be given the daunting task of having to go up against last year's Cy Young Award winner and reigning MVP Justin Verlander who plans to avenge his World Series defeat in 2006, entering the series a perfect 3-0 this postseason with 25 K's and an ERA of 0.74. Giants manager Bruce Bochy hopes to counter by naming Barry Zito the starter for the Giants in game 1. Equally as good as Verlander has been is Doug Fister, Anibal Sanchez and Max Scherzer who posted a combined ERA of 0.66 in the ALCS. But unlike the struggling Yankees who simply failed to show up at the plate, the Giants' scrappy bats won't make it easy on Detroit's stellar rotation.

How they match up: Though the Tigers benefit from a starting rotation that has dominated this postseason where as San Francisco has been inconsistent prior to Zito's gem in game 5 of the NLCS, their bullpen lacks the depth that the Giants possess. Giants manager Bruce Bochy owns the better team defensively, but Detroit's ability to hit the long ball takes the cake. Along with two of the best managers in the game today, these two teams facing off also means the two MVP front-runners of their respective leagues will be showcased in a series that I'm expecting will go no less than six games with the Giants prevailing. And while the previous three teams that have come off a seven-game LCS have went on to win the World Series when facing a club coming off a sweep, the Giants have to like their chances of making it four consecutive. 


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Zito Revitalized?

After being swept in their season opening series against the division rival Arizona Diamondbacks, the San Francisco Giants hit the road for Colorado's Coors Field to take on the Rockies where they looked to avoid their first 0-4 start since 1950. Despite losing the trio of games in the desert to kick off their 2012 campaign, it wasn't the offense that had struggled as they lost all three games by a mere one run, but rather their pitching. With Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner all failing to get San Francisco into the win column, it was up to the veteran Barry Zito to make sure this year's Giants squad wasn't the first to fall to 0-4 in over half a century.

Little did we know that Zito wouldn't only log the Giants' first win of the season on Monday, but he would do so in shutout fashion as the former Cy Young Award winner with the Oakland A's hurled his first complete-game shutout in a Giants uni and his first since April 18, 2003. With backup catcher Hector Sanchez behind the dish, Zito gave up just 4 hits while allowing 0 walks and striking out 4 before San Francisco's offense did the rest of the work as the Giants routed the Rockies by a final score of 7-0. Pablo Sandoval led the way with an early 2-run home run in the first, followed by an RBI knock and an RBI groundout by Sanchez and Angel Pagan in the third. Shortstop Brandon Crawford would put the finishing touches on a near perfect day with a bases-clearing double in the fifth.

For Zito who watched most of the 2011 season from the dugout while on the disabled-list nursing a foot injury, the dominant outing was a great sign following a disappointing spring training and couldn't have come at a better time. Had I been told prior to the season that the Giants' first win would be a Barry Zito shutout in Coors Field of all places, I simply wouldn't have believed it. But after watching Zito make quick work of the opposition in the first few innings, there was little doubt in my mind that he couldn't go the distance and pitch arguably his best game since donning the orange and black. Zito's stellar work on Monday should be a tremendous motivation booster and should do wonders to his confidence. But before we declare that the Zito of old has somehow returned over night, let's all just hold our breath and hope it's a sign of good things to come from the 33 year old lefty who's in his sixth year with the ballclub after signing that seven-year, $126 Million mega deal during the 2007 winter meetings.

And with the Giants' young stud Buster Posey back and in need of some rest every few days until he's 100%, don't be surprised if Hector Sanchez is called upon to catch Zito from here on in a similar way that Eli Whiteside was during games that former Giant Jonathan Sanchez pitched. It seems that the two have already built a lasting relationship and gel pretty well together. After all, if it's not broken, don't fix it.

Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest

Zito's Hot Tub Time Machine

During MLB's winter meetings of the 2007 offseason, the San Francisco Giants and left-handed pitcher Barry Zito inked a seven-year deal worth $126 million. Since the blockbuster deal, let's just say the Giants haven't quite gotten their moneys worth in his first three-years with the ball club. Since joining the Giants in '07, Zito has compiled a record of 20-wins and 30-losses and owns a rough 4.6 ERA. However, the former 2002 AL Cy Young Award winner and 3-time All-Star has gotten off to a blazing hot start to begin his 2010 campaign and is beginning to look a lot like the Zito of old.

Zito, who's now in his 10th year in the big leagues, has never been known for starting the season off strong. In fact, he's been a notorious slow starter since making his big league debut in 2000 with the Giants' bay area rivals -- the Oakland Athletics. But for Zito, the first month and a half of the 2010 season has rang a different tone. Through his first eight games, Zito owns a 6-1 record and an ERA of 2.15. Both of which are a career-best 8 starts into a season. After finishing last season with a record of 10-wins and 13-losses, Zito addressed his mechanics and made a few minor adjustments.

Zito's stellar season this year, started in Spring Training when he sent a message to his fellow teammates and coaching staff after throwing a beam ball at Brewers slugger Prince Fielder in retaliation for his walk-off celebration last season. Many including myself believe Zito's role in the rotation is an important one, given Matt Cain and 2-time defending Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum have pitched brilliantly for the club and have been depended on quite a lot. Not to mention the unripe Jonathan Sanchez who is yet to live up to his potential at the young age of 27. With the aforementioned names, the Giants starting pitching staff has already become one of the leagues best, but with a retro Zito in the mix, they can also become one of the leagues most feared from top to bottom.

Giants fans have been waiting to root for Zito since his arrival, but it's been a hard task granted how much weight was put on his shoulders after signing that huge contract. But if Zito can continue his dominance, the Giants faithful just might have a place in their heart for the $126 million dollar man.

Character of the Week x Mike Golic

So I blogged a few days ago about the Prince Fielder - Barry Zito bean ball incident, which in itself is pretty comical, but the funniest thing regarding the whole ordeal, is what ESPN radio mogul Mike Golic had to say about the whole thing. On his talk radio show 'Mike and Mike in the Morning' alongside Mike Greenberg, Golic (the heftier one of the two) decided it was appropriate to rant on the subject. Although he lacks the normal baseball logic one would need to successfully debate the incident, Golic gave it his all by calling Zito a "coward". "Every Milwaukee player was in on it, so why not bean ever player on the team if you're such a tough guy", said the sloppy overweight and out of shape former NFL defensive lineman. But as one could tell, Golic clearly missed the purpose of the pitch. Not to mention beaning every Brewer player like he suggested would lead to a ginormous fine and suspension among other things. Besides, after 2 or 3 hit batsman, Zito would've been tossed out of the game. But again, remembering it was Golic who made these remarks, I don't think he knew that. It's obvious who the brains on that show is when it comes to every other sport that isn't football. Golic, stick to football my friend...

What Goes Around Comes Around

Zito hits Fielder to settle score - Last September when the Giants were in town for a match-up against the Brewers, both teams found themselves in the late-innings of an afternoon matinee. With playoff hopes on the line, Prince Fielder stepped up to bat in the 12th inning of a 1-1 tie game. With the count 0-1, Fielder blasted off the very next pitch thrown by San Francisco's Merkin Valdez, sending the ball into the right-field bleachers and the crowd in a craze. However, the biggest story would come from what the 270lb slugger would do next. While rounding the bases and pulling his jersey out from under his belt, Fielder approached home plate with his peers and fellow teammates waiting for him. Prince then hurdled onto the plate as the rest of the brew crew fell over simultaneously in bowling pin fashion, creating quite the controversy.

The choreographed celebration was shown all over the sporting world, leaving a bad taste in the mouths of Giants fans and players alike. Six months later, both teams would meet again, this time in Scottsdale, Arizona for a Spring Training game. With Giants southpaw Barry Zito on the slab, the San Francisco ball club would have it's first shot at revenge. With Fielder at the plate against the Giants for the first time since his game winning home run, Zito let the Brewers slugger know that they didn't forgot nor appreciate his walk-off performance he put on six months prior, by plunking him in the back with the first pitch he seen in Spring Training.

I may not be the biggest fan of retaliation, but in the way Fielder celebrated his walk-off shot as if he scored a game-winning touchdown in an NFL end-zone with the likes of Chad Ochocinco or T.O., I think it was every bit necessary. More importantly, I was more than glad the two got it over with during a preseason game and not during the regular season. Fielder, who called the fastball he received in the back "unexpected", took the nice guy approach as he underhanded the ball back to Zito while trotting to first base. "They have to do what they have to do. Whatever," Fielder said when being asked about it. "I didn't see anything coming, but they have to do what they have to do. It's not going to take it away. It's chronicled. ... It is what it is. I hit the home run. Hit me. If that's what you've got to do, then that's what you've got to do."

Zito on the other hand, played the role of an oblivious man, responding as if last September's game never took place. Zito claimed it was an accident when being asked in a post game interview if it was an act of revenge. "No, we were just going with fastballs [inside] right there," Zito said. "It got away. The ball was running off." It's obvious the bean ball was thrown to send Fielder a message, but commenting as if it was on purpose would be the same as ratting yourself out it any other case and could have resulted in a fine and or suspension. Both are something the MLB has been known for dishing out when players or managers admit to beaning players of opposing teams.

I respect Zito for being the one who took the chance of possibly being bumrushed by the hefty Fielder, but if Zito needs to focus on anything, it's living up to that 7-year $126 million dollar contract he signed prior to the 2007 season. A signing that has ever since been a mistake to say the least. I'm surprised Fielder didn't turn into a madman and go off on a rampage like he did in L.A. last season when a Guillermo Mota's fastball payed his thigh a visit. Fielder stood at home plate staring Mota down merely asking 'Why?' before storming the Dodger clubhouse once the game had ended. (For more on the Mota-Fielder incident, check out: Not so Prince Charming)

Let's hope both teams concur about one thing as Giants skipper Bruce Bochy simply put it, "Let bygones be bygones."