By Fitzgerald Cecilio

Ryan Vogelsong scattered five hits in 5 2/3 scoreless frames while Tim Lincecum and Sergio Romo completed the shutout as the San Francisco Giants put the World Series trophy within reach with a 2-0 win over the Detroit Tigers in Game 3 Saturday at Comerica Park.

Vogelsong (1-0) struck out three and walked four while Lincecum pitched 2 1/3 of relief before Sergio Romo capped the win for his second save. The Giants blanked the Tigers for the second straight game to close in on a sweep and a second world title in three years.

"Being able to pitch a game in the World Series is something that two years ago before this started, I never thought was going to happen," Vogelsong said. "I was really, really pumped up to get out here tonight, and it just feels really good to finally be in a World Series. It's not over yet. We've got to win one more."

The Giants go for the jugular with NLCS hero Matt Cain on the mound against Max Scherzer in Game 4 Sunday. No team has recovered from a 0-3 deficit in the World Series.

San Francisco's pitching has been outstanding during its six-game postseason winning streak, recording a 0.47 ERA, while the Giants outscored opponents, 32-4.

Vogelsong continued that trend, inducing a pair of double-play grounders in the first three innings to stymie the Tigers.

The right-hander got into trouble in the fifth when he loaded the bases but induced a pop-up from AL Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera to get out of a jam unscathed.

"I just felt like we had a good game plan coming in, and I just tried to execute as many pitches as I could," said Vogelsong, who improved to 3-0 with a 1.09 ERA in four postseason starts.

The Giants backed up Vogelsong with a pair of runs in the second inning from an RBI triple by Gregor Blanco and RBI single from Brandon Crawford against Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez (0-1), who lasted with two earned runs on six hits and eight strikeouts.

"They're big guys, they know what the situation is, and they know we have to come out tomorrow and obviously win a game. I think it starts with that. You don't think about the four, you think about one, and that's basically what we were thinking about tonight," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said.

The Tigers are hoping to extend the series to a fifth game and give Game 1 losing pitcher Justin Verlander a shot at redemption and resuscitate their flickering hopes.

 

Joe Buck and Tim McCarver recap Game 3 of the World Series

 

 

Ryan Vogelsong Moves Giants Closer To Sweep, World Series Title