SAN FRANCISCO 2 DETROIT 0
(Giants lead series 3-0)
The San Francisco Giants rode another virtuoso pitching performance to blank the Detroit Tigers 2-0 on Saturday and move with one victory of their second World Series title in three years.
San Francisco, having held the Tigers scoreless for 18 straight innings, took a 3-0 lead and can claim the championship with a victory at Detroit's Comerica Park today.
Giants starter Ryan Vogelsong allowed the Tigers just five singles over 5 2 /3 innings before giving way to two-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum and closer Sergio Romo, who failed to give up a hit.
The Giants scored both of their runs in the second inning, sapping the enthusiasm from a sellout crowd of 42,262 desperate to see the Tigers make a move in their bid to capture their first championship since 1984.
Hunter Pence opened the second with a walk, stole second, and moved to third on a wild pitch. He came home with the game's first run one out later when Gre-gor Blanco crushed an Ani-bal Sanchez offering off the wall in right center for a triple.
After Brandon Belt struck out, Blanco trotted home when Brandon Crawford singled to shallow center. Austin Jackson was charged with an error for letting the ball scoot by him, which allowed the speedy Crawford to take second.
Vogelsong, who has been magnificent in the postseason, was aided by two inning-ending double plays in the first three innings.
In the fifth, the Tigers had the bases loaded with one out but Quintin Berry struck out and Miguel Cabrera popped out to short.
Cabrera this year achieved the first Triple Crown in the majors since 1967 but the 29-year-old seven-time All-Star has just two hits and one RBI in the first three games of the series.
In the postseason, Vogel-song is 3-0 and has given up just three runs in 24 2 /3 innings.
Sanchez took the loss for the Tigers despite pitching well, giving up six hits and two runs while striking out eight.
"I think we're all enjoying this right now," Lincecum said moments after the final out Saturday. "We're looking forward to [today]."
