With a 2-0 victory in Game 2 of the World Series, the San Fransisco Giants moved two more wins away from their second championship in three years, all the while serving notice to the Detroit Tigers that they can get it done any way needed.
In Game 1 Wednesday in San Fransisco, it was a power display of hitting, with Pablo Sandoval blasting a record three home runs in an 8-3 route. Thursday night, the Giants manipulated two runs off a bunt single, double-play ground out and a sacrifice fly.
Now, as the series shifts to Detroit for Game 3 Saturday, the Giants go in feeling confident in their ability to succeed in any fashion.
“It definitely feels a whole lot better than having our backs against the wall,” Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner said. “But you can’t relax. We’ve got to keep pushing.”
Bumgarner did his part in Game 2. He pitched seven scoreless innings against a usually potent Tigers lineup. And now, for once, the Giants do not have to mount a comeback. They overcame a 2-0 deficit to beat Cincinnati in the best-of-five NL Division Series and escaped a 3-1 hole against St. Louis in the NL Championship Series.
It helped Thursday night that Prince Fielder was thrown out at the plate in a close and moments later pitcher Doug Fister was struck squarely in the head by Gregor Blanco’s line drive, a ball hit so hard that it caromed into shallow center field.
“That’s the way baseball is. When things are going well, things are bouncing your way,” Giants second baseman Marco Scutaro said. “If things aren’t going well, you just keep battling and playing hard. No one is taking anything for granted.”
Even so, several dozen members of the Giants family came onto the field at AT&T Park well after the final out to pose for pictures, wanting to savor what they hope is the Giants’ last home game of the year.
