(Sports Network) - The San Francisco Giants try to take a big step towards their first championship in 56 years this evening when they play Game 2 of the World Series against the Texas Rangers at AT&T Park.
World Series Game 2, Rangers Vs. Giants: Matt Cain Looks To Stay Hot, Put Texas In Hole
San Francisco opened the 106th edition of the Fall Classic on Wednesday by handing Cliff Lee the first postseason loss of his career, as Freddy Sanchez drove in the go-ahead run with his third double of the game and Juan Uribe's towering three-run home run capped a six-run fifth, helping the Giants to an 11-7 win.
Sanchez became the first player in major league history to record three consecutive doubles in his first three at-bats of the World Series and finished with four hits and three runs batted in overall.
Tim Lincecum (1-0) was the beneficiary of the offensive onslaught despite a subpar outing by his standards. The right-hander gave up four runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and two walks over 5 2/3 frames.
“It was not quite the game we thought it would be, but a huge game for us. We had some great two-out hits,” said Giants manager Bruce Bochy.
History could be on the side of the Giants, who are seeking their first World Series title since 1954, as 11 of the last 13 teams to win Game 1 have gone on to win the championship.
The last NL team to go up 2-0 was the Arizona Diamondbacks, who did it in 2001 against the New York Yankees.
While Lincecum struggled, the Rangers' ace fared even worse. Lee (0-1) was wild in the strike zone, missing over the middle of the plate far too often, while giving up seven runs -- six earned -- on eight hits with seven strikeouts and one walk over just 4 2/3 frames. He entered the game with a 0.75 earned run average in three starts this postseason and a 1.26 ERA in his postseason career.
Former Giant Bengie Molina finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI for the Rangers, who are looking for their first World Series crown. Texas, though, has now lost 12 straight games in San Francisco.
Despite pounding out 11 hits, the Rangers failed to homer for the first time in 12 games this postseason.
“Maybe tomorrow will be a different day. Maybe we can score the runs,” Rangers manager Ron Washington said.
With no designated hitter in the National League park Vladimir Guerrero got the start in right field and committed two of the Rangers' four errors, as they became the first team in six years to make four errors in a World Series game.
“We made four errors and I had two of them, but what happened has happened,” said Guerrero, who played just 18 games in the field this season. “I can’t hang my head. We’ll see what happens tomorrow.”
Hoping to get the Rangers even tonight will be left-hander C.J. Wilson, who is 1-1 this postseason with a 3.93 ERA. Wilson was roughed up by the New York Yankees in Game 5 of the ALCS, as he allowed six runs (five earned) and six hits in five innings.
“I still feel like this year is incomplete,” Wilson said. “We’re here to complete the season, and that’s the goal we’ve had the whole way.”
Wilson was a pleasant surprise for Texas this season transitioning from reliever to starter and going 15-8 with a 3.35 ERA. Tonight’s start, though, will be his first against the Giants.
“It’s like the exact opposite of Yankee Stadium,” said Wilson of pitching in San Francisco. “Yankee Stadium is like 310 [feet] down the lines and 340 in the gaps. It’s like you sneeze on a ball, break a bat, and it’s out. This place, you really have to hit the ball better. It’s much more of a pitcher’s ballpark.”
“He’s commanding his fastball, and his secondary pitches, he’s throwing strikes and hes getting it where he wants,” Bochy said.
The bulky right-hander, who was 13-11 with a 3.14 ERA in 33 starts this season, has only faced the Rangers once and received a no-decision, but pitched well giving up a run and three hits with eight strikeouts back in 2009.
"You like Cainer against pretty much anybody," said catcher Buster Posey. "The guy goes out and competes every time, and I don't think we'll see anything less than that."
While the Rangers are enjoying the first real postseason run in the team’s 50- year franchise history, the Giants are no stranger to the World Series and are making their 18th appearance. However, this is just the team’s fourth trip to the Fall Classic since moving to San Francisco in 1958.
This series shifts to Rangers Ballpark in Arlington for Game 3 on Saturday.
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