San Francisco Giants take Game 1 of World Series
Game 1 of the World Series between the Texas Rangers and the San Francisco Giants was expected to be a low scoring affair with two Cy Young award winners, Tim Lincecum and Cliff Lee, going head-to-head.
But instead of setting pitching records, the game saw a hitter make it into the World Series record books during an 11-7 Giants victory.
Freddy Sanchez hit doubles in each of his first three at bats, the first person in MLB history to accomplish that feat.
"I didn't know that until someone told me," Sanchez said. "I think it's crazy to have my name up there with all of the guys that have played in the World Series. ... For no one to have done that yet, I
think it's something special -- for just a little guy like me to go out there and be able to do it. Getting the win was the most important thing, but that's something special and something I can enjoy along with the win."
Sanchez went 4-5 in the game, scoring twice and batting in three more.
The game also matched the second highest total score in World Series history with 18 combined runs. The other game that saw 18 runs was a 1932 tilt between the New York Yankees and the Chicago Cubs. The
highest scoring game was played in 2004 between the Boston Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals, an 11-9 Red Sox win.
The two teams also tied the record for most pitchers used in a nine-inning World Series game with 12. That record was also set by Boston, this time in 2007 against the Colorado Rookies, a 10-5 Red Sox
win.
Considering the outcome of the game, the Rangers may want to keep Lee in the order as a designated hitter once they return to Texas. Lee only pitched 4 2/3 innings, and gave up seven runs, six of them
earned, but went 1-2 at the plate with a double.
"It was a little bit of everything. I was up, I was down, I was in, I was out," said Lee, seemingly referencing the lyrics to a Katy Perry song, "Hot n' Cold." "They were swinging the bat well. That's
in a nutshell what happened."
A six-run fifth that gave the Giants an 8-2 lead inning is what happened.
Lincecum fared better than Lee, but much worse than he usually does. He only went 5 2/3 innings while allowing four runs, and striking out only three. Lee at least had seven strikeouts. They both gave
up eight hits.
Giants first baseman, Aubrey Huff, who has been prone to errors this post-season and will probably get the start as the DH in Texas, summed the game up as well as anyone.
"You [bet] a hundred bucks in Vegas, you're probably a millionaire, aren't you?" Huff said, "That's what's funny about the post-season, man. You never know what's going to happen."
Game 2 goes Thursday night in San Francisco.
Tags: