Pablo! Pablo!Pablo!

Pablo Sandoval slammed three homers and Barry Zito was helpful with his arm and bat as the San Francisco Giants took game one of the World Series 8-3 over the visiting Detroit Tigers and their ace Justin Verlander at AT&T Park.
The Giants lead the series 1-0 entering game two at the Park by the Bay with Madison Bumgarner taking the ball for the Giants against Doug Fister of the Tigers.

Giant Steps

1) What more can I say about Pablo Sandoval's three shots into the seats?
Sandoval's feat was previously achieved by just three others in history-Babe Ruth,Reggie Jackson and Albert Pujols.
Two Hall of Famers and one slam dunk entry-not bad company at all!

2) Barry Zito allowed just one run in five and two-thirds innings and added an RBI single to boot.
Zito's numbers with Oakland were solid against Detroit,although that had little to do with these Tigers.
Zito's soft stuff works very well against power hitters when he is "on" and it looked to me that the Tigers were overswinging.

3) Tim Linceum relieved Zito and looked like the Lincecum of old as he whiffed five in two and a third and did not allow a hit.
Bruce Bochy has said he wants to keep Lincecum from pitching back to back games from the bullpen,so I don't expect to see him tonight,although maybe one batter might be allowed,but Lincecum was extremely effective last night.

4) Two more hits (and RBI) for Marco Scutaro,who continues his scorching hitting over the postseason.

5) I wrote yesterday about the need for Sandoval,Buster Posey and Hunter Pence to step up with the lumber.
Well,Sandoval certainly did that,but so did Buster Posey with two hits and an RBI.
If Posey gets hot,this series suddenly becomes much easier for the Giants to win...

6) The media was so over the top on Justin Verlander that it seemed the Giants should not even bother to show up.
Verlander is the best pitcher in the game right now,but anyone is beatable and Verlander was all anyone wanted to talk about.

7) So,figure that most thought the Giants would lose to Verlander and would have to beat Doug Fister to leave town with a split.
Now the Giants have a chance to go up 2-0,albeit against another tough pitcher in Fister.
Another tough assignment,but if they can squeak this one out,it guarantees a return trip home no matter the results of the three games in Detriot...