World Series, Game 1: Sandoval, Zito, Giants keep hot momentum

Prior to the start of Game 1 of the World Series, it was almost assumed that Justin Verlander starting for the Detroit Tigers would bring a victory for the boys from the Motor City. The reigning AL MVP and Cy Young awards winning pitcher was taken completely off his game when the Giants came to bat.

For the first five outs, it felt like it was going to be a pitchers dual between Verlander and Giants hurler Barry Zito. With two outs, Pablo Sandoval sent a JV fastball 421 feet over the right-center wall for a home run, igniting the home crowd at AT&T Park in San Francisco.

NLCS MVP Marco Scutaro continued his hot hitting with a single to center, driving in Angel Pagan. Sandoval was primed for his second trip to the plate. This time, Pablo drove a two-run shot to left (379 feet) for a three-run Giant 3rd and a 4-0 lead.

The defense was pretty stellar as well. Gregor Blanco had two tremendous diving catches out in left. Barry Zito was more focused on the mound than anyone gave the 2002 AL Cy Young award winner credit for. Zito was the starter in San Francisco's Game 5 victory at St. Louis in the NLCS that advanced the series onto Games 6 and 7, propelling the Giants into the World Series.

Zito helped his own cause with his bat. With Brandon Belt aboard, BZ dropped a single into left field, scoring Belt for a 5-0 lead.

Al Alburquerque replaced Justin Verlander in the bottom of the 5th. Verlander had one of his worst outings in quite a while. He threw 98 pitches in four innings, gave up six hits, five runs (all earned), 4 strikeouts, one walk and two mammouth home runs given up to the Kung Fu Panda, Pablo Sandoval.

Pablo made history during his third at-bat. He took a one-out Alburquerque pitch to deep center (435 feet) for his third home run of the night. He joined some pretty good company in doing so. Babe Ruth (1926 and 1928), Reggie Jackson (1977) and Albert Pujols in 2011 are the three previous to perform this feat in a World Series game, Pujols joined Ruth and Jackson during last year's Fall Classic vs. the Texas Rangers.

Sandoval is the first of the four to hit his three home runs in his first three plate appearances. Jackson walked, followed by three straight home runs in 1977. In 1926, Babe Ruth hit a home run, home run, walked and homered in his final at-bat (courtesy of Elias Sports Bureau).

Detroit finally got itself on the scoreboard in the 6th. Triple crown winner Miguel Cabrera singled and was driven home on an Austin Jackson single, bringing the Tigers' deficit to 6-1.

The Giants added on their finishing touches to Game 1 in the 7th. Pagan singled and Scutaro drove him in. Catcher Buster Posey singled and drove Scutaro home for an 8-1 cushion.

The Tigers gave it one last effort in the top of the 9th with a Jhonny Peralta two-run home run, but Detroit fell hard in Game 1, 8-3.

Game 2 is tonight at 8pm with Doug Fister (Detroit) facing Madison Bumgarner (San Francisco) at AT&T Park.