SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Pablo Sandoval sure picked a great time to become the first San Francisco Giant to homer three times at AT&T Park.Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson and Albert Pujols are the only other players to homer three times in a World Series game. Sandoval is the first to do it in his first three at-bats of a World Series opener.
The only other player to homer three times at AT&T Park was Dodgers shortstop Kevin Elster, who did it in the first-ever game at the stadium more than 12 years ago.
Two of Sandoval's three homers came off Justin Verlander, who entered the game with a 3-0 record and a 0.74 ERA this postseason. The Giants tagged Verlander for five runs and six hits in four innings.
NLCS Most Valuable Player Marco Scutaro continued his hot hitting, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. He's hit safely in 11 straight games since the NLDS and has collected at least two hits in seven of his last eight games.
The Giants also showcased some strong pitching by Barry Zito and Tim Lincecum. Zito blanked the Tigers over the first five innings and allowed only a run and six hits before leaving with two out in the sixth. He received help from left fielder Gregor Blanco, who made two diving catches.
Zito also chipped in an RBI single to make it 5-0 in the fourth inning
Lincecum struck out five while retiring all seven hitters he faced before the Giants needed three relievers to get the final three outs.
The Tigers' scoring came on Miguel Cabrera's RBI single in the sixth and Jhonny Peralta's two-run homer in the ninth.
The series continues Thursday night in San Francisco, where Madison Bumgarner will start for the Giants against Doug Fister.
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