Posted: 10/21/2014 10:32:51 PM PDT
Updated: 10/21/2014 10:34:50 PM PDT
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- It wasn't as awe-inspiring as his Game 1 performance in the 2012 World Series when he slammed three home runs, but Pablo Sandoval is off to another strong start in the Fall Classic.
Sandoval drove in the Giants' first run of a three-run first inning with a ringing double into the right field corner, and also added another run-scoring single in the seventh to help salt away a 7-1 Series-opening victory Tuesday.
It was a money start for the impending free agent third baseman, and Gregor Blanco, one of Sandoval's closest friend and a fellow Venezuelan, claimed he saw it coming. He noted the third baseman was in a quiet, mellow mood before the game, save a batting practice show in which he was ripping lasers to all parts of Kauffman Stadium.
'When Pablo's calm and he doesn't talk too much before the game, you gotta be scared,' Blanco said. 'He's going to do it. I like it when he's like that. I always like to push him and say, 'You're the Panda, you're the guy.' He likes that, and he's unbelievable in this situation.'
With his first-inning RBI double, Sandoval reached base for the 24th consecutive postseason game, the longest streak in club history and fifth-best all-time. And while he hadn't driven in many runs during this 2014 playoff run before Tuesday night -- just one in 10 previous games -- he has nonetheless been productive. He's now hitting .333 this postseason and leads the Giants in hits (16), runs scored (seven), extra-base hits (five) and total bases (21).
Sandoval doesn't want to think about any personal numbers right now. It's all about winning three more games and claiming a third world championship in five years.
'I feel great because we win,' he said. 'That's the most important thing. That we score runs is the only thing I care about.'
Sandoval's first-inning double was almost to the same exact spot he laced a bases-loaded triple off Detroit's Justin Verlander in the first inning of the 2012 All-Star game.
This at-bat against Royals starter James Shields was a little bit different, though. With runners at first and third, he was just trying to put the bat on the ball somewhere.
'I just tried to be patient at home plate and get a good pitch,' Sandoval said. 'But then he threw me a fastball right down the middle and I took it -- I don't know why I did that in that situation. Then he threw me a really good pitch, a curveball down and in, and I was able to put the ball in play.'
Buster Posey was thrown out at home trying to score on Sandoval's double, but Hunter Pence followed with a towering two-run home run to center and it was suddenly 3-0 Giants. Standing on second base, Sandoval couldn't believe his eyes.
'I didn't know it could go that far, it's such a big ballpark,' Sandoval said. 'I'm happy for Hunter. It was exciting, crazy.'
But Sandoval's early breakout definitely bodes well for the Giants as the Series progresses.
'When he get on a tear, he might just go 10 for 10 when he's up there,' said Brandon Belt. 'He can carry this team, and he's obviously doing that right now.'
Posey said you never know when Sandoval might be ready to go on a roll, but the odds are better the more people are watching.
-He does a good job being the same guy all the time,' Posey said. 'He's in here before the game keeping everybody loose. But he's just one of those guys who seems to like this stage.'
Sandoval said he thinks the entire team learned something from Aug. 9, when Shields threw a four-hit shutout at the Giants here in Kansas City.
'Past is past,' he said. 'He did a hell of job during the season. He threw a great game, but we made the adjustments. We took ever little tip we could get to make it work.'
Asked if he thought the Giants set a tone for the Series by winning the opener with a plentiful dose of offense, Sandoval shook his head.
'It's one game, brother,' he said. 'There are a lot of games left to play.'
Follow Carl Steward on Twitter at http://ift.tt/Kw3GpZ.
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