Game one of the World Series belongs to none other than the San Francisco Giants. Being the underdogs since day one, the Giants showed that experience, determination, and believing in yourself is just some of what you need to make it in the World Series. The Giants beat the Kansas City Royals, 7-1, tonight and lead the series 1-0.
Madison Bumgarner started things off right for the Giants, pitching seven innings with three hits, one walk, five strikeouts, and giving up one run. Besides pitching flawlessly, Bumgarner assisted himself when two balls were hit directly back to him and without missing a beat, he was able to get each one out. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Bumgarner’s domination came to an end after Salvador Perez hit a solo home run off him, ending his thirty-two inning road shutout streak.
James Shields, the ace for the Royals, struggled tonight against the Giants. Shields only pitched three innings, giving up seven hits, one walk, and five runs. The Royals relievers were not able to help either with the Giants getting two more runs off of Danny Duffy.
In the first inning, the Giants started dominating early. Blanco and Posey were on base when Pablo Sandoval doubled on a line drive to right field. Blanco scored easily but Posey was also sent home, causing him to be tagged out. Hunter Pence then hit a two run home run, giving the Giants a 3-0 lead. The Giants runs did end there though, in the fourth, Micheal Morse, the designated hitter, was able to single on a line drive to center field, scoring Pence and sending Brandon Belt to second. Later in the fourth with bases loaded, Blanco took a walk, scoring another run for the Giants.
Joe Panik made his World Series debate today and continued his amazing rookie year with a triple to center field, scoring Blanco and extending the Giants’ lead 6-0. Panik scored after Sandoval singled on a ground ball to left field.
Javier Lopez entered in the eighth and helped preserve the Giants lead by getting only one hit and quietly ending the eighth. In the ninth, Hunter Strickland came in to close the game and get the Giants a win. Strickland pitched amazing, getting two strikeouts and no hits, putting the Royals down easily and ending the game.
As for hitting, the Giants did fairly well, with Posey going 1-5, Blanco 1-3, Sandoval 2-5, and Pence 2-3.
In a post game interview, Hunter Pence says that the Giants needed to get as locked in as they can to get another win tomorrow. He continued to say that there was no key to the win tonight, just a collective effort.
The Giants will face the Royals tomorrow in Kansas City at 5:07 p.m. with Jake Peavy on the mound against Yordano Ventura, to help Giants get one game closer to their third World Series win.
