After both starting pitchers traded goose eggs through the first two innings, Cliff Lee came out in the top of the third trying not to be the first guy to give in. And, in typical Cliff Lee fashion, he succeeded.
World Series Game 5, Giants Vs. Rangers: Cliff Lee, Tim Lincecum Still Effective
It wasn't the best that Lee's ever looked. After Edgar Renteria led off with a first-pitch pop out, Aaron Rowand followed with a line out to left field. The next batter, Andres Torres, then slapped a hard-hit grounder back up the middle for a base hit, and Freddy Sanchez concluded the inning with a lineout back to the mound just over Lee's head. Lee kept the Giants scoreless, but three of the four balls in play were struck well.
Lincecum then returned to the mound and looked absolutely dominant. He struck out David Murphy swinging on three pitches. He struck out Bengie Molina swinging on three pitches. He walked Mitch Moreland on some borderline calls to give the Rangers their first baserunner, but he came back to strike out Elvis Andrus on four pitches to end it.
To the fourth we go, still scoreless. Lee has thrown 33 pitches, while Lincecum has thrown 34. 45 of those 67 total pitches have been strikes.
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