For the Giants, on this particular night, no problem. Because Hunter Pence then stepped up and drilled a home run 406 feet to center field, and the Giants had an early 3-0 lead.
Bumgarner, despite not appearing to have his best stuff, wiggled his way in and out of trouble over and over, with the highlight coming in the bottom of the third, when an error by usually sure-handed shortstop Brandon Crawford allowed Omar Infante to reach base for the Royals, and a dramatic double to right by Mike Moustakas put runners at second and third with no out.
At this point, the home crowd sensed a comeback and they got loud.
But Bumgarner struck out the next two batters, and walked one before getting a ground out to end the threat.
In the top of the fifth, the Giants struck again -- twice. Pence hit a leadoff double and took third on a wild pitch. Brandon Belt walked. Michael Morse singled in Pence. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded, Blanco walked against a relief pitcher to make it 5-0.
There were some great defensive plays by players on both teams in the first half of the game, including Blanco and Cain.
Meanwhile, the Giants offense wasn't finished. In the top of the seventh, Blanco walked and rookie Joe Panik tripled. 6-0 Giants. Sandoval then drove in Panik. 7-0.
But then Salvador Perez hit a homer against Bumgarner to bring the home team back: Giants 7-1. That was the first run Bumgarner has ever given up in a World Series.
Giants rookie and future closer Hunter Strickland shut down the Royals in the ninth. Game 1 over, Giants.
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