10/27/12
Game 3 was the same story as Game 2. Just as I expected it
would be a pitching duel. I said in my last entry that both Anibal Sanchez and
Ryan Vogelsong were having strong postseasons this year and it would be a
pitching duel with very little offense. In this game all it took was one bad
inning for Sanchez to get the Giants on the scoreboard. All two runs tonight
were scored in the second inning.
As much as Sanchez pitched a solid game there were questions
after the second inning as he went into the Tigers clubhouse in disgust whether
he was injured or not. Turns out he was angry at how he performed in the second
inning. After he released his anger, he pitched five shutout innings and
pitched seven innings in total. He gave up 6 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk and 8
strikeouts. The bullpen surprisingly pitched well by Joaquin Benoit and Phil
Coke. Both pitchers combined pitched 2 innings, allowed 1 hit, and struck out 4
hitters. The Tigers had their chances tonight against Vogelsong, but would
ground into double plays or strike out in pivotal moments in the game. In the
first inning the Tigers had runners on first and second base with one out and
Prince Fielder, the team’s highest paid hitter, grounded into a critical double
play that ended the inning. In the third inning it was the same situation as
the first inning and light hitting Quintin Berry grounded into a critical
double play. Lastly, in the fifth inning the Tigers had the bases loaded with 1
out and Quintin Berry struck out and Miguel Cabrera, who won the Triple Crown
Award (led the AL in batting average, homeruns, and RBI’s), hit a weak pop out
to shortstop to end the inning. That was the last hope the Tigers had before
the Giants relievers shut them down for 3 1/3 innings. If the Tigers want to
win just one game in this World Series, they need to start hitting because the
pitching has been showing up.
Ryan Vogelsong has been having quite a wonderful postseason
ride. However this game he pitched he was not as sharp as he was in the NLCS
against the St. Louis Cardinals. He pitched 5 2/3 shutout innings, allowed 5
hits, 4 walks, and struck out 3 hitters. As I said before, he escaped danger in
three of the 5 2/3 innings he pitched. You know who has been a surprise out of
the bullpen for the Giants? Tim Lincecum. He and Sergio Romo combined to pitch
3 1/3 shutout innings, walked 1 hitter and struck out 4 hitters and did not
allow a hit. The scoring in the second inning happened when Hunter Pence got a
single into left field. Pence stole second base after Brandon Belt struck out
and, when Gregor Blanco was hitting, Pence went to third base on a passed ball
by Tigers catcher Alex Avila. Gregor Blanco hit a rocket into right field that
hit off the giant wall and got an RBI triple. After Hector Sanchez struck out,
Brandon Crawford laced an RBI single into centerfield that scored Gregor
Blanco. I said in Game 1 that the Giants needed the bottom of the lineup to
contribute with the top of the lineup to have a balanced offense. Well, the
exact opposite happened. The bottom of the Giants lineup had five of their
seven hits in the game.
Game 4 is on Sunday in Detroit. The pitching matchup is Matt
Cain vs. Max Scherzer. This should be another one of those low scoring pitchers’
duels like we have seen in the past 2 games.
Will Detroit’s postseason run end tomorrow or will they live
another day? Sound off and stay tuned for my reCAP of Game 4.
I will also be writing about the Philadelphia Eagles game
against the Atlanta Falcons tomorrow.
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