2012 World Series Replay - Game 5

Tigers' Manager Jim Leyland goes out to shake Giants' Manager Bruce Bochy's hand.

The 2012 World Series now stands tied 2-2, as the 2011 A.L. Cy Young & Most Valuable Player Justin Verlander takes the mound at Comerica, against Barry Zito who had the game of his life in Game 1. Can the Tigers take three straight from the Giants? or will the Giants take a 3-2 lead back to San Francisco?

GAME 5

at Comerica Park / Detroit

STARTING LINEUPS

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS - Fielding 2 (40)

2013 Topps Heritage of Angel Pagan.

1. Angel Pagan - CF

.388 AVG, 7/18, 1 HR, 2 RBI

2. Marco Scutaro - SS

.167 AVG, 3/18, 0 HR, 0 RBI

3. Pablo Sandoval - 3B

.250 AVG, 4/16, 0 HR, 3 RBI

4. Buster Posey - C

.200 AVG, 3/15, 0 HR, 1 RBI

5. Hunter Pence - RF

.143 AVG, 2/14, 0 HR, 0 RBI

6. Brandon Belt - 1B

.267 AVG, 4/15, 0 HR, 2 RBI

7. Hector Sanchez - DH

.400 AVG, 2/5, 0 HR, 3 RBI

8. Ryan Theriot - 2B

.167 AVG, 1/6, 0 HR, 0 RBI

9. Gregor Blanco - LF

.000 AVG, 0/12, 0 HR, 0 RBI

DETROIT TIGERS - Fielding 2 (40)

1. Austin Jackson - CF

.118 AVG, 2/17, 2 HR, 3 RBI

2. Quintin Berry - LF

.333 AVG, 2/6, 0 HR, 0 RBI

3. Miguel Cabrera - 3B

.235 AVG, 4/17, 1 HR, 2 RBI

4. Prince Fielder - 1B

.231 AVG, 3/13, 0 HR, 1 RBI

5. Andy Dirks - RF

.294 AVG, 5/17, 0 HR, 1 RBI

6. Delmon Young - DH

.133 AVG, 2/15, 1 HR, 2 RBI

7. Alex Avila - C

.000 AVG, 0/5, 0 HR, 0 RBI

8. Omar Infante - 2B

.063 AVG, 1/16, 0 HR, 2 RBI

9. Jhonny Peralta - SS

.143 AVG, 2/14, 0 HR, 0 RBI

STARTING PITCHERS

• Justin Verlander (DET): 0-1, 1.13 ERA, 5 K's & 4 BB's (2 H) in 8 IP.
• Barry Zito (SF): 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 8 K's & 5 BB's in 8 IP during Game 1.

Bottom of the 1st

Barry Zito got passed the first two batters until walking the dangerous Miguel Cabrera, which allowed Prince Fielder to take advantage of driving in Cabrera with an RBI double, Tigers draw first blood.

Tigers 1, Giants 0

Top of the 2nd

Justin Verlander looking to repeat a 1-2-3 like the inning below, finds himself up against National League MVP-favorite Buster Posey. Posey laces a double into right-center, bringing up Hunter Pence (batting .143 this series). Pence finds his pitch, hits off the wall in deep center, Austin Jackson's chasing after the ball, Posey will score, Jackson throws it towards third, as Pence will make it to third easily on a triple. Brandon Belt steps up to the plate, and Verlander fires it over Avila's mitt, Pence will score on the wild pitch! Alex Avila goes to the mound to settle down Verlander, as the Giants take a 2-1 lead. Verlander strikes out Belt, and gets Hector Sanchez to ground out. Ryan Theriot steps up to the plate with two outs, and Verlander loses him, as Theriot trots down to first on a bases-on-balls. Verlander prepares for Gregor Blanco, still looking for his first hit of the series in 12 at-bats, fires the pitch, and Theriot bolts for second, Avila fires it to second, Infante applies the tag -- OUT! Not before the Giants got their knocks on Verlander though. Giants 2, Tigers 1

Top of the 4th

Justin Verlander strikes out Buster Posey to start off the 4th, but ends up walking Hunter Pence after that. Brandon Belt laces a single to right, moving the runner Pence to third base. With one ball to Hector Sanchez (playing DH), Belt takes off for second, the throw from Avila is close, but the ump signals SAFE! Runners on 2nd & 3rd, with only one out. Avila trucks out to the mound to pay Verlander a visit, Verlander has not been as sharp as he was in Game 1 up to this point -- the Tigers hope he can settle down, as his pitch count is up early on this one, a few stellar innings deep can go a long way for Detroit. Verlander refocuses and strikes out Sanchez. Ryan Theriot steps up to the plate, Verlander walked him in the 2nd, but not this time -- Another strikeout for J.V., despite not being crisp in this one, he already has 6 K's; scoring threat defeated. Giants 2, Tigers 1

Bottom of the 6th

The Giants were happy to get five solid innings from Barry Zito, who allowed only three hits & one earned run, with 3 K's & 3 BB's -- they'll leave the rest to the strong bullpen & a 2-1 lead. Quintin Berry leads off with a single off of new pitcher Santiago Casilla. Casilla will now have to face off against Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera, but Cabrera ends up once again hitting into a double-play like he did during the bottom of the third. Prince Fielder would have his 2nd double of the game, but he would be stranded on base due to Andy Dirks flying out to right.

Top of the 9th
Justin Verlander would be replaced by Brayan Villarreal, after 8 innings of work -- Verlander allowed 5 hits (4 of them during the first four innings) & two earned runs, while striking out 10 Giants & walking four. This is Villarreal's first appearance since the Game 2 meltdown that resulted in a Giants victory.

Brandon Belt leads off with a single, Hector Sanchez then followed with a double, advancing Belt to third. Tiger fans start to shift around in their seats, not liking what they are seeing. Fortunate for Villarreal, he is facing off against the weak part of the lineup. Ryan Theriot steps up to the plate, and adds an insurance run with an RBI single -- driving in Belt for the run, Sanchez makes it to third base. Theriot steals successfully this time, and this time it was on Gerald Laird's arm. Runners on 2nd & 3rd, with no outs, Gregor Blanco grounds the ball to deep short, Jhonny Peralta's only chance is at first, ground out, but Sanchez scores. Villarreal strikes out Pagan, and is replaced by reliever Octavio Dotel, who gets Marco Scutaro to fly out to end the inning. Giants 4, Tigers 1

Bottom of the 9th
The Giants bring in their closer Sergio Romo, to try and close down a Giants victory and take the series back to San Francisco with a 3-2 lead. Prince Fielder grounds out, Andy Dirks flies out & Delmon Young grounds out, a quick 1-2-3. Giants win!


FINAL SCORE                                          R     H     E
SAN FRANCISCO             4    8   0
DETROIT                            1   5   0     F
WP- Zito / LP- Verlander / SV- Romo

POST-GAME:

• Barry Zito (SF): 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER/R, 3 K & 3 BB's, he is now 2-0, 0.69 ERA with 11 K's in 13 innings during the World Series.
• Justin Verlander (DET): 8 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 10 K & 4 BB's. 0-2 this series, yet has a 1.50 ERA with 15 K's in 18 innings.
• Miguel Cabrera (DET): Grounded into 3 DP's (4 for the series).
• Prince Fielder (DET): 2-for-4, two doubles & RBI.
• Brandon Belt (SF): 2-for-4, two singles, SB & run.
• Brandon Villarreal (DET): World Series: 1 IP, 6 H, 5 ER's (6 runs), K & BB. (45.00 ERA).

GAME 6 - STARTING PITCHERS

• Doug Fister (DET): 0-0, 0.00 ERA (0 ER's & 1 run) in 6 innings / 5 K's & 0 BB's.
• Madison Bumgarner (SF): 0-0, 4.50 ERA, 6 hits, 6 K's & 3 BB's in 6 innings.