San Francisco Giants 7-1 Kansas City Royals: 2014 World Series Game 1 - as it happened!

Giants 7-1 Royals, bottom 9th

Hosmer grounds out to second base - easy for Panik and there’s two down.

Giants 7-1 Royals, bottom 9th

It will be Cain, Hosmer and Butler here in the ninth, and in to face them is Hunter Strickland, how actually got knocked around so much in these playoffs, his admittance into the Hunter Club is in jeopardy.

A good start for Strickland - he blows away Cain, and that’s no easy feat. Now Hosmer....

Look...

The Rob Lowe Direct TV commercials must go away. How do we make this happen? Together we are strong!

Giants 7-1 Royals, top 9th

Morse waves at a high fastball and the side is retired. And...here come the Royals?

Clearly there’s some infighting over at The K.

Giants 7-1 Royals, top 9th

Jason Frasor on in relief, and after he gets Posey to bounce out, Sandoval is on after he lines a ball off Moustakas at third - that’s an E-5, and a tough one.

So one on and one out for Pence who is looking to pad his night. He’s on again after a walk. Here comes Belt, who grounds to Escobar who flips to Infante for the force at second base.

Two outs, runners at the corners for Toothy Morse.

Madison Bumgarner

Well, he didn’t hit a home run but he did wreck the Royals lineup. After squeezing out of a third inning jam, the Giants ace started operation shutdown. Only Perez’ big fly could scar his line.

7IP 3H 1R 1ER 1BB 5SO 1HR

Untouchable, more or less.

Giants 7-1 Royals, bottom 8th

Javier Lopez is out to mop this thing up. He gets Moustakas on a comebacker, throwing to first for the first out. Escobar singles, but then is wiped out on a 4-6-3, that’s second base to shortstop to first - two outs, one time.

Inning over.

Giants 7-1 Royals, top 8th

Blanco and Panik pop out to end the inning - meanwhile, Bumgarner is done...

Giants 7-1 Royals, top 8th

Perez strikes out looking and then Crawford has a hit to go along with his spectacular glove - the ball is heading to the gap in left but so is Gordon! He makes a sliding stop that passes for a Royals highlight tonight while Crawford is held to a single.

Well, it ain’t over till it’s over, but I agree.

Believe it or not...

The FOX guys are making me miss Tim McCarver. I have a feeling I’m not alone.

Giants 7-1 Royals, bottom 7th

Infante pops one up to shallow left field - Crawford has a beat on it and makes a over the shoulder catch that looked way too easy. Side retired.

Giants 7-0 Royals, bottom 7th

Bumgarner is out for the seventh to face Billy Butler - and he gives it a ride but it’s just a long and loud out after Blanco makes the catch in center.

His 100th pitch is a groundout off the bat of Alex Gordon.

Complete and total control from the ace. Now Perez...

Giants 7-0 Royals, top 7th

Pence is at the plate and Sandoval is down to second on a woild pithc. Then Collins walks Pence before striking out Belt. So now two on, two out for Morse who flies to center to end the inning. Two home in the frame for the visitors and it’s stretch time.

I think it’s only fair. Meanwhile, FOX broadcasters make their second cricket reference tonight - that could be a drinking game for tomorrow.

Giants 6-0 Royals, top 7th

Southpaw Tim Collins is in, and Posey lines one to Hosmer who was playing with the infield in for the first out. Sandoval steps in now with Panik still on third...

That or start stealing bases and dropping bunts...

You ain’t just whistlin’ Dixie.

Giants 5-0 Royals, bottom 6th

Aoki, a routine ground ball out to short.

Cain, a high chop, Crawford has it again - he throws to first for out two.

Now Hosmer, looking to shake the tree, hits Bumgarner...or his glove. The Giants ace knocks down the ball and makes the throw from his knees - FROM HIS KNEES, in time to get the Royals first baseman.

The man does it all - he’s now over 30 consecutive shutout postseason innings.

A good common sense move. Here’s another - a Motley Crew of Royals fans head to the Giants hotel tonight and blast “Royals” for six straight hours...that could help.

Giants 5-0 Royals, top 6th

Crawford bounces out, Hosmer to Duffy, and he’s really settled in here. Not sure it matters with Bumgarner on the hill though.

Giants 5-0 Royals, top 6th

Perez hits a one of those fly balls that makes you realize just how much real estate is out there. Cain, running to his right, tracks it down for the second out.

Now Duffy has Crawford in the hole 0-2 with signs of life coming from the crowd at The K...

Giants 5-0 Royals, top 6th

Here is Morse, who is an enormous man with very bright teeth. He hits a line-shot to left that is just foul...

Duffy rears back on 1-2 and Morse waves at it, that’s the third strikeout for the starter turned reliever. Juan Perez steps in with one down.

You have to be willing to die for your art.

Giants 5-0 Royals, bottom 5th

Bumgarner is heading into piss-take mode. After Infante popped out to right, he throws a bugs-bunny curve ball that Moustakas has no idea what to do with...not that anyone would.

Then Escobar flies to right to end the inning.

Suddenly the Royals are as cold as ice.

Giants 5-0 Royals, top 5th

Duffy gets Belt swinging and there’s a bit of Cardinal-fan-like rah-rah from the crowd as KC head to the dugout, that despite being down 5-0. What is it with Missouri?

Giants 5-0 Royals, top 5th

Sandoval takes his first ball on pitch six of his at-bat vs Duffy. Two pitches later Panda grounds out to Escobar who was in the hole at short - a fine play there for the first out.

Now it’s Pence looking gto ad to his tally. He hits a little chopper up the middle - Escobar is charging and running to his left towards second - it’s another strong play as he gets Pence by a step for the second out.

Belt is next...

Ginats 5-0 Royals, bottom 4th

Butler pops out, Gordon and Perez strike out and Bumgarner is doing it his way. He’s thrown 67 pitches through four shut-out innings.

Optimism vs pessimism....

And I quote...

There’s a lot of energy in here still and a lot of belief.

Royals bench-player extraordinaire Raul Ibanez speaking to FOX TV, here in the US.

Big Game James

The data says he got hammered tonight.

3IP 7H 5R 5ER 1BB 1SO 1HR

Don’t worry KC, you’ve got Yordano Ventura tomorrow night.

Giants 5-0 Royals, top 4th

Joe Panik swings through a fastball at the knees and the Royals crowd let’s out a little burst...two down.

Now here’s Posey looking to poke that bubble - b he pops up to the right side - Aoki is there to make the catch in right and the inning is over.

Yes, it could have been a lot worse, this is true. Still, KC have a lot of work to do against a guy on the mound who hasn’t given up a run in a long, long time.

Giants 4-0 Royals, top 4th

So here’s Duffy, a southpaw, facing a pich hitter - Juan Perez is in for Travis Ishikawa, and he promtly moves the runners with a sac-bunt.

So now there’s one out and Crawford at the plate who Duffy walks! So now we’ve got bases full of Giants and The Animal Gregor Blanco trying to break this baby wide wide open...

The Marlins fan...

As BrooklYINZ points out, there is a Marlins fan in full view of every single person watching this World Series. I can now report that he is a sports-mad Marlins super-fan that loves his team and going to big events. Here’s an amusing look at him from back in 2012. Thanks to Alan Evans for the tip!

It was going to happen sooner or later.

Giants 3-0 Royals, top 4th

Pence is back, and this time he slices a double down the leftfield line. MVP? Too early?

Too early.

Oh wait...now Pence is at third - a changeup to Brandon Belt is in the dirt and moves the runner to third.

Then he walks him.

So now Shields takes a little stroll into the situation room and we got action in the bullpen - it’s Danny Duffy getting to work.

The guy in orange? That’s an outrage.

You’re a disgrace. How dare you.

Giants 3-0 Royals, bottom 3rd

Air. Balloon.

Hosmer is first pitch swinging and bounces one to Panik at second - it’s easy for the kid, who gobbles it up and fires over to first to complete the Giants Houdini act.

You don’t get shots at Bumgarner like that, and you have to cash in when you do.

Giants 3-0 Royals, bottom 3rd

Lorenzo Cain is a disciplined man - he works a walk and the bases are filled with Royals. Eric Hosmer can give the home team the lead with one big swing...

Giants 3-0 Royals, bottom 3rd

Bumgarner is ahead 0-2 and then he throws a slider in the dirt that Aoki can’t resist - he checks his swing and third base umpire Ted Barett says “guilty as charged!” Two outs!

Are the Giants really going to get out of this scott free? Here’s Cain, who has had his share of timely hits these playoffs.

Giants 3-0 Royals, bottom 3rd

Now it’s less lolud. Escobar chases the high cheese and he’s defenseless. First strikeout for Bumgarner, one down for the left handed Aoki...

Giants 3-0 Royals, bottom 3rd

Another broken bat, this time it’s Omar Infante leading off for KC, and it’s a spinning top that Brandon Crawford can’t handle! It’s an E-6 and a runner on for KC...

Now Moustakas lines one into the right field corner - that’s extra bases! Infante holds at third and Mooooose is on second with a double.

That’s a shot of espresso for fans out at The K!

So two on, nobody out and here’s the top of the order - Alcides Escobar.

And it’s loud...

Not bad, you buying it?

Giants 3-0 Royals, top 3rd

Panik lines out to second as Shields shows signs of settling down.

Now Posey breaks his bat on a line drive that Moustakas handles at third. That’s six straight hitters retired now by Shields.

Meanwhile, Jake Peavy is giving the longest in-game interview I have ever seen in my entire life....

...Sandoval hits a long fly ball that hangs up there forever - it carries as well before Cain finally gets under it near the track and puts it away.

That’s another 1-2-3 inning for Shields.

Pence earned it with his first inning home run that you can see right now by clicking here!

Do it!

Giants 3-0 Royals, bottom 2nd

Gordon hits a soft line drive to short which Crawford puts away.

That’ll bring up my man Salvador Prez - am I allowed to root for players in live blogs? What a specimen...

OK, gushing over. One on, one out.

A broken bat comebacker - Bumgarner hestitates on the throw, but re-sets, hits Crawford at second for the first out, who fires over to first to complete the double play!

KC squander a lead-off single, side retired.

Giants 3-0 Royals, bottom 2nd

Here’s Billy Butler, who will want to make the most of his time in KC because he’ll get fewer swings out in San Francisco when the DH comes in.

He’s down in the count 0-2 but worls his way back and lines a single to center - that’s the lead runner on for Alex Gordon and that finely manicured beard...Mike Napoli would never go for that.

Once upon a time there was a little show on Channel 5 in the UK that made a lot of people happy. If it were still here, we would be in tuxedos tonight guiding dedicated viewers through the night for Game 1 because sleep is overrated!

Giants 3-0 Royals, top 2nd

Towels wave as Blanco pops out to Cain in center. That’s a 1-2-3 inning for James, who isn’t as mean to his glove as he walks of the mound this time.

Giants 3-0 Royals, top 2nd

So here’s the hero of Game 5, Travis Ishikawa, who put a stake in the Cardinals with his pennant winning home run in the NLCS.

His encore lacks drama - a ground out to first. Now Brandon Crawford is at the plate - and he laces a ball towards Aoki. He makes the catch, but there was a little gasp in the crowd for sure.

Still, the first two Giant hitters are history in the second, and here comes Blanco, back for more in the leadoff spot.

The Giants aren’t as cute and cuddly as they used to be, but are definitely not hate-able. Still, KC haven’t been to the World Series since Doc was in a DeLorean and the Giants can’t compete with that from a PR perspective.

Giants 3-0 Royals, bottom 1st

Hosmer hits a ball to deep right center field - Blanco is on the run, extends his glove and makes the catch! Blanco had a lot of ground to cover in that roomy outfield, but retired Hosmer to end the inning.

Giants 3-0 Royals, bottom 1st

Cain has some good cuts and makes Bumgarner work - it’s an eight pitch at-bat and it ends with Cain being hit on the foot. So he takes first base and that will bring up Hosmer batting with one on and two outs.

Giants 3-0 Royals, bottom 1st

Alcides Escobar leads off looking for answers to the SF surge, but grounds out sharply to short.

Now it’s Aoki, who did a great jobin the right field corner on the Sandoval hit to help nail Posey at home.

WHACK! Right at Bumgarner, who sticks out his glove, makes the grab and says “get off me!”

Very nice.

Now comes Cain, the darling of the ALCS for those in blue, batting with two outs.

Babe Ruth...but I see where you’re going with this. Give KC a chance Hunter, come on.

Email:

John Goldstein writes:

I’m really looking forward to this. I’m not sure who the anthem singer was but she gets a 7 out of 10 from me. Just sang the song without too many dramatics. The MLB TV coverage is already annoying me and they seem to have upped the animated graphic sounds beyond their usual level. I’ve got no idea who will win and I don’t care really. Lets hope it’s a good one.

That reminds me, I forgot to rate the anthem - I’ll give it a 7.5/10. Again, very solid. I’ll be surprised if we get better this series.

Giants 3-0 Royals, top 1st

Shields is getting torched - Brandon Belt has the fifth hit of the inning, and here’s Michael Morse.

And he strikes out.

Shields says a lot of x-rated things into his glove while walking off the mound.

Now, here come the Royals, and Madison Bumgarner.

No. He got it because his name is James. Origonal. That’s just the way it goes - blame his parents.

Giants 0-0 Royals, top 1st

Posey - a line drive base hit, just beyond the glove of Moustakas!

Shields showing rust for sure, and must look like a nice thick piece of bamboo to Pablo Sandoval right now. He bats with runner first and third with one out.

Giants 0-0 Royals, top 1st

Cain lifts it to deep left center field - Cain tracks it down and Blanco is tagging up! He gets to second and is now in scoring position with one down for Posey.

Is Gregor Blanco a complete and total animal or what?

Shields meanwhile is having some trouble locating...

Giants 0-0 Royals, top 1st

Blanco hits a soft fly ball towards Cain -he’s thinking about a sliding catch, but Lorenzo is smart to let it fall.

Blanco has become a postseason hit machine (yes, that Gregor Blanco)...and started tonight right where he left off...

Now the rookie Joe Panik gets his first taste of a Fall Classic.

Predictions II

Can’t leave out a regular, Resins Man, who writes:

It goes to the 7th game, but of the starters only Bumgarner has a chance of a Win.

Predictions

I’ve hear this Rockies comparison a few times the last few days - I don’t buy it. The Giants are not as good as those Sox, and these Royals are better than those Rox. That doesn’t mean KC can pull it off though...I’ll take San Francisco in six.

Having said that, I’ve been wrong before...or in every single prediction I’ve made over my entire life.

National Anthem

It’s Trisha Yearwood, and I have to say, she did a very solid job. I like to tear these people apart but she made it difficult, perhaps because she’s had the gig before....

There’s always tomorrow night...

And here they are, your Kansas City Royals!

1. Alcides Escobar, SS
2. Nori Aoki, RF
3. Lorenzo Cain, CF
4. Eric Hosmer, 1B
5. Billy Butler, DH
6. Alex Gordon, LF
7. Salvador Perez, C
8. Omar Infante, 2B
9. Mike Moustakas, 3B

Standard fare here...a similar lineup to what we’ve seen for most of the postseason.

San Francisco Giants lineup

1. Gregor Blanco, CF
2. Joe Panik, 2B
3. Buster Posey, C
4. Pablo Sandoval, 3B
5. Hunter Pence, RF
6. Brandon Belt, 1B
7. Michael Morse, DH
8. Travis Ishikawa, LF
9. Brandon Crawford, SS

So Michael Morse gets the start here as the DH. As we saw in Game 5 of the NLCS, he has quite the bat, and that’s an advantage for San Francisco for sure.

KC’s got s(e)oul

You may see some South Korean flags in the crowd tonight. Why? Well, that’s because of this man. SungWoo Lee, who has taken KC by storm, just as the Royals have.

To make a long story short, SungWoo Lee became a superfan in the 1990’s, growing up watching them on the Armed Forces Network in South Korea. He came over for his first visit to see the team, becoming a local sensation while the team went 9-1, which included a sweep of these very same San Francisco Giants. With that kind of track record, and one twitter campaign later, KC’s unofficial mascot was flown in for Game 1.

I mean, the guy was mobbed at the airport and given the VIP treatment.

You can’t not love it - it’s completely insane!

Anybody need one?

Kansas City may not be one of America’s major cities, but their fans are paying big-time prices for tickets. Just to get in will cost you $666, and if you want to go large, well, got $13,200 to spare?

I don’t know about you, but that’s my bar tab at the club.

The average price is $1,325, so I guess baseball is alive and well in KC then...