Willie Mays, it turns out, is feeling under the weather, and wasn't able to come out and throw the ceremonial first pitch. But the pregame stuff all went off without a hitch otherwise. There was a flyover and introductions and everything, with the best moment being the introduction of Bengie Molina. Molina received loud applause and took a moment to acknowledge the crowd.
World Series Game 1, Rangers Vs. Giants: Vladimir Guerrero RBI Single Drives In First Run
After all the ceremonial stuff, the game got going. And unfortunately for San Francisco, it got going in the Rangers' favor. The very first batter of the World Series was Elvis Andrus, and on a 1-1 pitch from Tim Lincecum, Andrus ripped a base hit into left field.
With Andrus on, Lincecum was immediately distracted, and the next batter - Michael Young - was able to work his way back from a 1-2 count to a seven-pitch walk.
That put two runners on for Josh Hamilton, who tapped a slow grounder to move the runners up. And then Vladimir Guerrero came in and swatted a grounder off Lincecum's leg. Aubrey Huff retrieved the ball, but there was no time to make a play, and Guerrero had an infield single. Andrus scored on the hit to put the Rangers up 1-0.
Standing in next was Nelson Cruz, with another run just 90 feet away. And what happened was, in a word, strange. Cruz hit a tapper back to Lincecum, who fielded the ball with ease. And Michael Young had broken home on the play, meaning Lincecum had Young in a rundown. Lincecum was able to run Young back to third base, but for whatever reason, he failed to throw to the third baseman, meaning everybody was safe. The Rangers had the bases loaded and only one out due to a momentary lapse in concentration.
Lincecum, though, worked out of it when Ian Kinsler stepped in and drilled a grounder to third. Juan Uribe stepped on the bag and threw over to Huff for a 5-3 double play, and that would end the frame.
Lincecum’s pitch count stands at 22.
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