Tune in at 8:07 PM ET as the Giants take on the Tigers in Game Three of the World Series. Ian Hunter will be liveblogging for your enjoyment.
Good evening, all! Welcome to tonight's Score liveblog of Game 3 of the World Series. Sounds like it's a chilly night out in Detroit ... a good night to stay warm and cozy and check out the ballgame.
Here are your starting lineups for both the visiting San Francisco Giants and the hometown Detroit Tigers:
San Francisco Giants
Pagan CF
Scutaro 2B
Sandoval 3B
Posey C
Pence RF
Belt 1B
Blanco LF
Sanchez DH
Crawford SS
SP: Ryan Vogelsong
Detroit Tigers
Jackson CF
Berry LF
Cabrera 3B
Fielder 1B
Young DH
Dirks RF
Peralta SS
Avilla C
Infante 2B
SP: Anibal Sanchez
Not a good stat here for the Tigers/a very good stat here for the Giants - 40 of the last 50 teams to start off the World Series 2-0 have gone on to win, including 14 of the last 15 World Champions.
The last team to come back from down 2-0 was the 1996 New York Yankees - New York lost the first two games of the series before storming back and winning the next 4 against the Atlanta Braves. In fact, for two consecutive years in 1985 and 1986 the team that started the series 2-0 ended up losing the series in 7 games.
At least the Tigers have the next 3 games on their home turf and the game returns to the AL rules; no breaks here for the pitchers as they'll face 9 batters in the lineup as opposed to 8 batters and a pitcher.
With the win in Game 2 of the World Series, the Giants are now riding a 5-game win streak in the postseason, which has set a new franchise record for consecutive wins in the playoffs. San Fran has now won 9 of the last 12 in the playoffs.
The Detroit Tigers however have a streak of their own - they have now won 5 straight playoff games on home turf at Comerica Park.
Runs have been hard to come by against the Giants in this series, and when they get on the board first, San Francisco is now 8-1 in the playoffs.
Zooey Deschanel is singing the national anthem right now, and I think it could very well be the longest rendition I've ever heard. Only topped of course by Bleeding Gums Murphy.
Ryan Vogelsong goes to the hill for the San Francisco Giants, and he has been dynamite for San Fran in the playoffs this year. In all 3 of his starts, Vogelsong has allowed 1 or fewer runs. Only 4 pitchers in playoff history have allowed 1 or fewer runs in 4 consecutive postseason starts, and Ryan Vogelsong will be looking to become the fifth tonight.
Anibal Sanchez gets the ball tonight for the Detroit Tigers, and he'll be making his third career postseason start. Sanchez is 1-1 with a 1.35 ERA in his 2 previous starts - one of which was his his great start in Game 2 of the ALCS against the Yankees in which he went 7 scoreless innings.
There are quite a few celebrities in attendance for tonight's game in Detroit. There's Detroit native Jack White ...
@mgodfrey Thanks very much! Glad to have you along for the game.
Also, here is a look at Miguel Cabrera's Triple Crown award, which interestingly enough, is literally a crown:
@mgodfrey In the forecast it said 46 degrees, or 8 celcius tonight. Lots of toques and warm sweaters out there tonight!
Just a reminder before we get underway, folks ... I'll try to get to as many comments as I can during the game. Please try to keep the conversation game related, but as has been shown already, sometimes the conversation steers into The Simpsons territory.
And some more hardware was handed out today, as Miguel Cabrera and Buster Posey were announced as the Hank Aaron Award winners in their league as the top offensive player. Sounds like they may need to make some room in the trophy cases for a possible MVP award as well.
Interesting fact about the playoff series for the Giants - they have yet to face a left-handed starter in the postseason, as it's been nothing but a slew of righties pitching against them. San Fran sent a pair of southpaws to the hill in Game 1 and 2 and now go with a pair of righties with Ryan Vogelsong and Matt Game in Game 3 and 4.
Miguel Cabrera has been an on-base machine this postseason, and his entire postseason career, actually. Cabrera has reached base in all 22 of his playoff games with the Tigers, which has set a new franchise record. In 39 postseason games total, Miguel Cabrera owns an on base percentage of .381.
Speaking of great on-base streaks, Marco Scutaro was held off the basepaths for just the second time this postseason in Game 2. Scutaro was riding an 11-game hit streak in the playoffs dating back to Game 3 of the NLDS.
Tonight looks to be a clear series defining game for both sides tonight - with a win by the Giants, they go up 3-0 in the series. However, the Tigers can cut their lead to 2-1 with a win at home this evening.
So Angel Pagan steps in and leads it off for the Giants. He's batting .222 in the playoffs with 2 doubles, 1 triple and a 2 home runs.
The first out of the game is a grounder over to Fielder at first base. He steps on the bag himself to retire Pagan.
Marco Scutaro is the next batter, and I'm kind of fascinated by his batting stance ... when he goes through his routine it almost looks like he's going to fall down backwards.
Full count on Scutaro now ... and I can't remember where I heard this, but I think Scutaro has swung and missed in 2 pitches the entire playoffs.
On the payoff pitch, Scutaro hits one out to short - elects not to slide into first base, and is taken care of at the bag for the second out.
Pablo Sandoval was the hero in Game 1 of the World Series, hitting 3 home runs in just that one game. He had 13 the entire season.
Sandoval picks up his 6th hit of the series, loops a single into centre field in front of Austin Jackson, who had a lot of ground to make up.
Pablo Sandoval reaches base, and now makes way for the cleanup hitter Buster Posey.
Posey behind in the count 0-2, swings and fouls that last pitch back behind the screen. 2 men out, Sandoval at first base.
Sanchez gets the best of Buster Posey, strikes him out on a nice pitch down and away. Aside from the hit by Sandoval, Sanchez looks good in the top of the 1st.
by Ian Hunter via Distilleryimage4.instagram 10/27/2012 11:59:26 PM
