The Giants exploded for three runs in the top of the first inning on singles by Gregor Blanco and Buster Posey, a double by Pablo Sandoval, and a Hunter Pence two-run homer to center field. They’ll take a 3-0 World Series Game 1 lead into the bottom of the second inning. That’s a daunting hill to climb for the Royals given that Madison Bumgarner has been the most dominant starting pitcher in this postseason.
The home run for Pence was his first in over a month, and just his second since September 2 — a span of 103 plate appearances. But it traveled fast and far off Royals starter James Shields.