After an easy first inning that saw zero runs and 23 total pitches, the second might've been even easier, as Cliff Lee and Tim Lincecum each settled into a groove.
World Series Game 5, Giants Vs. Rangers: Cliff Lee, Tim Lincecum Stellar In Second
Lee came out and immediately got locked in a long battle with Juan Uribe. With the eighth pitch, though, Lee was able to strike him out swinging with an inside fastball. That brought up Aubrey Huff, and Huff proved much simpler to put away than Uribe, grounding out on the second pitch. The Giants' final hope in the inning was Pat Burrell, and while Burrell did smoke a 3-1 fastball into left field, David Murphy retreated a few steps to make a catch and end the inning.
Tim Lincecum then came out and pitched very efficiently. He busted Vladimir Guerrero with a first-pitch inside fastball and got a fly out. He busted Nelson Cruz with a first-pitch inside fastball and got a groundout. Ian Kinsler didn't swing at the first pitch, which was a fastball and also a strike, but a few pitches later he also grounded out, wrapping up a six-pitch second inning.
To the third we go, with Lee at 25 pitches, and Lincecum at 19. This may end up being the pitcher’s duel we all missed out on in Game 1.
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