San Francisco @ Detroit preview
Comerica Park
Last Meeting ( Oct 25, 2012 ) Detroit 0, San Francisco 2
The Detroit Tigers are hoping a return to the Motor City helps change their fortune as they find themselves in a 2-0 hole when they host the San Francisco Giants in Game 3 of the World Series at Comerica Park on Saturday. Detroit had five days off before suffering an 8-3 loss in the series opener, but its bats were even quieter in Game 2 on Thursday as the club managed only two hits in a 2-0 setback at AT&T Park. The Tigers, who were shut out only twice during the regular season, have been blanked on two occasions in 11 postseason games.
Game 2 marked the second time Detroit was held to two hits or less in a playoff game. The Tigers recorded only one hit in Game 3 of the 1945 World Series. Detroit is looking to become the first team since the 1996 New York Yankees to win the Fall Classic after losing the first two games. The Giants have recent history on their side as the last eight teams to take a 2-0 lead have gone on to win the championship. However, San Francisco faces a difficult task as the series shifts to Comerica Park, where the Tigers are 4-0 this postseason.
TV: 8:07 p.m. ET, FOX
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Ryan Vogelsong (2-0, 1.42 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Anibal Sanchez (1-1, 1.35)
Vogelsong has been dominant this postseason, allowing a total of three runs and 11 hits over 19 innings in three starts. The 35-year-old settled for a no-decision in Game 3 of the National League Division Series against Cincinnati despite yielding just one run and three hits in five frames as he helped keep San Francisco's season alive. Vogelsong was even better versus St. Louis in the NL Championship Series, giving up only one run and four hits over seven innings in both Game 2 and Game 6, striking out nine in the latter.
Sanchez pitched well in his postseason debut but took the loss after yielding two runs and five hits over 6 1/3 innings in Game 3 of the ALDS against the Athletics in Oakland. The 28-year-old was magnificent in Game 2 of the ALCS versus the Yankees in New York as he scattered three hits and struck out seven in seven scoreless frames en route to victory. Sanchez had gone 3-0 with a 0.87 ERA in four career starts against San Francisco before surrendering five runs in 5 1/3 innings in a loss on May 24 while with Miami.
WALK-OFFS
1. Vogelsong's only career start against the Tigers came in Detroit on July 3, 2011, when he allowed three runs and four hits over 6 2/3 innings in a no-decision.
2. San Francisco has won five straight postseason games for the first time in franchise history.
3. The Giants' starting pitchers have allowed a total of two runs over 33 innings in the club's last five contests.