Game 1 of the World Series finished in a very unexpected fashion: a high scoring game. With Tim Lincecum vs. Cliff Lee being the highlight, everyone expected a low scoring, tight game. Oh how the baseball gods had different ideas. The Final Result: 11-7 Giants.
Lee only lasted 4 2/3 innings, giving up six earned runs off of eight hits. Not looking like his dominant self, Lincecum lasted 5 2/3 innings giving up four earned runs off of eight hits.
Even though the game started with a 2-2 tie, the fifth inning became an explosion. With Freddy Sanchez leading the way by going 3-3 with three doubles in his first at-bats, Juan Uribe capped off a six-run fifth inning for the Giants with a three-run homerun. Who would have thought that a team that loses when their pitcher throws one-hitters (see Matt Cain earlier this season) would chase out a Cy Young candidate and undefeated in the postseason pitcher in Cliff Lee?
The Giants offense did its part in the fifth, now it was up to the bullpen.
Give the Ranger hitters credit though. Despite being down 8-2 entering the sixth, they never stopped swinging. This was evident in Bengie Molina leading the charge (ending his night at 2-4 with two runs scored). The Rangers scored two in the sixth, closing the gap 8-4 and then showed another threat in the ninth, loading the bases with one out and scoring three runs. But by that time the damage was too much to overcome.
But no lead is ever safe against these Rangers. They lead the American League in hits and average this year for a reason. Luckily the Giants just kept adding to their lead with three late runs in the eighth.
But no lead is ever safe against these Rangers. They lead the American League in hits and average this year for a reason. Luckily the Giants just kept adding to their lead with three late runs in the eighth.
This was a HUGE win for the Giants. Not only does it agree with history about whoever wins Game 1 wins the series a certain percentage of the time, blah, blah, blah, but more importantly: they beat Cliff Lee. The Rangers must feel demoralized to see that their ace is human. Momentum, if you believe in it, is to the Giants.
P.S. Tony Bennett's rendition of God Bless America in the seventh inning was amazing.
Who would have thought?
ReplyDeleteMidwest connection after Game 1: Didn't Juan Uribe play for the White Sox for a few seasons? That must have been where he learned to hit like that...