The San Francisco Giants destroyed the Detroit Tigers in Game 1 of the World Series as they were led by their Kung Fu Panda, Pablo Sandoval, on the offensive attack to a 8-3 victory.
Sandoval hit three home runs on Wednesday joining Babe Ruth, Albert Pujols and Reggie Jackson as the only players to accomplish this feat in the World Series. He finished the night a perfect 4-4 adding a single in the bottom of the 7th.
Kung Fu Panda got the action started in the first inning with a solo blast on an 0-2 fastball high and tight. He squeezed his arms in and sent a rocket over the centerfield wall.
He came up again in the third once again, this time with Marco Scutaro on first and whacked an opposite field shot to right. In his at bat in the fifth, he went fishing and sent another one to centerfield.
He became the first player to hit three homers in his first three career World Series at bats.
The first two shots were off of Justin Verlander who had been unhittable in his first three outings.
Verlander uncharacteristically gave up five earned runs on six hits in four innings pitched.
His counterpart, Barry Zito was almost perfect in his 5.2 innings pitched. He got out of a first inning jam and only allowed one earned run on six hits. He walked one and struck out three in this outing.
Zito had Tiger hitters off balance all day and only gave up a run on a Miguel Cabrera single to center scoring Austin Jackson from third.
Tim Lincecum keeps proving he is a force out of the bullpen, getting Zito out of a sixth inning jam by striking out Jhonny Peralta. Lincecum struck out five batters in the 2.1 innings he pitched. Maybe Bruce Bochy should stick to keeping The Freak as a relief pitcher.
Gregor Blanco continued to play stellar defense. He stole two base hits that would have plagued trouble for the Giants, but he dove out and stole singles from Prince Fielder and Cabrera.
Game 2 tomorrow is at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Madison Bumgarner will take the mound for the Giants and the Tigers will count on Doug Fister to prevent an 0-2 start to the 2012 World Series.
