Giants on the board early, lead Cardinals 1-0 in 2nd inning

Well, the Giants are off to a great start in this National League Game of All Games.

In the top of the first, Carlos Beltran reached on a pop-fly single and later stole second base -- he's now 11 for 11 stealing bases in his postseason career -- but was stranded when Matt Cain retired Allen Craig on a pop to third base. For Cain, the only down note was that he threw 20 pitches in the frame.

But he must have been feeling great a few moments later, when Ángel Pagán led off the bottom of the first with a line-drive single, and even better when Marco Scutaro, with the hit-and-run play going, collected his 23rd base hit in this series, with Pagán going to third.

Pablo Sandoval hit a little nubber toward second baseman Daniel Descalso. Cardinals pitcher Kyle Lohse tracked it down, but couldn't quickly get a good grip on the ball, and could only watch as Pagán sprinted toward the plate and scored the game's first run; Lohse did have plenty of time to throw out Sandoval at first base, Scutaro advancing to second.

Buster Posey grounded to shortstop Pete Kozma, who was lucky when the ball glanced off the heel of his glove but didn't go far, giving Kozma just enough time to throw out Posey. That brought up Hunter Pence, batting just .163 in this postseason. Lohse, to nobody's surprise, struck out Pence on a breaking ball low and away.