In the closest game so far in the World Series, the Kansas City Royals defeated the San Francisco Giants 3-2 at AT&T Park on Friday night to grab a 2-1 series lead. Starter Jeremy Guthrie and the Royals' bullpen only gave up four hits and two runs.
The Giants were down 3-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning after Lorenzo Cain's RBI groundout in the first inning followed by Alex Gordon's RBI double and Eric Hosmer's RBI single in the top of the sixth. San Francisco looked as if they were staging a comeback, but the Royals' bullpen proved too strong.
Guthrie pitched into the sixth but was pulled after giving up an RBI double to Michael Morse. With no outs, manager Ned Yost called on right-hander Kelvin Herrera, who walked Gregor Blanco, the first batter he faced. He got Giants' second baseman Joe Panik to ground out, but Buster Posey delivered an RBI groundout in the very next at-bat. The run was charged to Guthrie. With the score 3-2 and a runner on third, Herrera pitched his way around Pablo Sandoval and got him to ground out to first base to end the inning.
Herrera pitched into the seventh and was relieved by rookie Brandon Finnegan, who finished the inning. Wade Davis came on to pitch the eighth and then closer Greg Holland closed out the ninth to earn his first save of the World Series. The Royals' bullpen threw four innings and gave up only two walks while striking out four.
Giants' starter Tim Hudson lost an evenly matched game, as he lasted 5 2/3 innings and gave up four hits and three earned runs. The Royals scored their winning run in the sixth inning when Bruce Bochy called to the bullpen and had Javier Lopez relieve Hudson. Lopez finished the sixth inning, but not before Hosmer smacked an RBI single into center field to make the game 3-0. Hudson was charged with the run and was handed his fourth career postseason loss.
But the Giants will host the Royals again on Saturday. Ryan Vogelsong will face off against Jason Vargas at 8:07 p.m. tonight. Before surrendering four earned runs in only three innings in his last postseason start against the St. Louis Cardinals, Vogelsong was the first pitcher in MLB history to give up two runs or fewer in his first five career postseason starts. He earned a win against the Washington Nationals in the NLDS and pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up only two hits and one earned run.
Vargas will take the hill for his third career postseason start, all of which came in 2014. He received a no-decision in the ALDS against the Los Angeles Angels when he lasted six innings and gave up three hits and two earned runs. The Royals went on to win that game and sweep the series. He earned a win in the ALCS against the Baltimore Orioles after Kansas City swept them as well. Vargas pitched 5 1/3 innings and gave up one earned run on two hits and three walks. The right-hander faced San Francisco back in August and gave up two earned runs on nine hits in five innings pitched. The Royals won the game, but Vargas received a no-decision.
San Francisco will look to get the bats going and avoid their second loss of the series at home and third overall. After opening the World Series in Game 1 with 11 hits and seven runs, the Giants have only four runs and 13 hits in Games 2 and 3 combined. Based on this team's postseason history, nobody expects them to lay down in a crucial Game 4 against Kansas City.
Tune in to FOX at 8:00 p.m. tonight for coverage of Game 4.
