World Series Game 2 – Giants Win & Take 2-0 Series Lead

The San Francisco Giants beat the Detroit Tigers, 2-0  in Game 2 of the World Series at AT&T Park tonight, giving them a 2-0 lead in the best of 7 game series. Of course, the Giants know good and well a 2-game, or even a 3-game lead means nothing when it comes to the playoffs.

Oct 25, 2012; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants fans hang up K signs in the outfield representing the number of strikeouts recorded by pitcher Madison Bumgarner (not pictured) after the top of the sixth inning of game two of the 2012 World Series against the Detroit Tigers at AT&T Park. ©H. Darr Beiser-USA TODAY Sports

Tonight’s game was the pitcher’s duel everyone was waiting on. Of course, I’m not sure we expected it to be between Doug Fister and Madison Bumgarner, however. Fister has been solid in the postseason, and certainly was tonight, but while the Giants pitching staff seemed to have plenty of confidence in Bumgarner tonight, I know a few fans were a bit uneasy considering is 11.25 ERA in the postseason. However, statistics tell us the Detroit Tigers don’t hit left-handed pitching well, so I guess that was the push Bochy needed to put Bumgarner in and keep Tim Lincecum doing the great things he’s doing from the bullpen.

The first run scored tonight didn’t come until the bottom of the 7th after Hunter Pence hit a single, Brandon Belt walked, and Gregor Blanco hit a bunt that Detroit gambled on going foul — and lost. With the bases loaded, Brandon Crawford hit into a double play, but it was enough to score Pence. In the bottom of the 9th, with bases loaded, Pence played a crucial role once again, hitting a sacrifice fly ball to center field deep enough to allow Angel Pagan to score from 3B.

Detroit ended the night with only 2 hits on the night. Fister ended the night with 6 innings pitched, giving up 4 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, threw 3 strikeouts. The solid pitching would end with Fister, however. The Tigers needed 3 pitchers just to get out of the 8th inning after Drew Smyly walked 3 batters and Octavio Dotel walked 1, loading the bases and allowing Pence to hit the sacrifice fly ball that scored Pagan. Phil Coke relieved Dotel, and got the final out of the inning without anymore damage to the Tigers.

San Francisco fared a little better with 5 hits on the night. Bumgarner pitched 7 innings, allowing only 2 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks, and striking out 8 Tigers – the most he’s had since August 20. Santiago Casilla relieved Bumganer in the 8th, facing 3 batters to get 3 outs. Sergio Romo came in to close out the 9th, and did so much like Casilla, 3 up, 3 down.

The Giants head to Detroit for Game 3 of the series which will be Saturday, October 27th at 5:00pm, Pacific Time. Ryan Vogelsong will take on Anibal Sanchez.