Giants blast out to 2-0 Series advantage
SAN FRANCISCO — For a team that barely made it to the playoffs, the San Francisco Giants are looking more and more like a baseball juggernaut.
Matt Cain pitched 7X\c innings and combined with his bullpen on a four-hitter, Edgar Renteria reprised his October success with a home run and three RBI, and San Francisco broke away for a 9-0 win over Texas Thursday night and a 2-0 Series lead.
"We've put ourselves in a good situation," said Cain, who hasn't allowed an earned run in the postseason. "We've just got to take that confidence and some of the good approaches that we've had into these last two games and take them down to Texas with us."
Forty of the previous 51 teams to take a 2-0 lead have gone on to win the title, including seven straight and 13 of the last 14.
After a day off, the Series resumes for the first time in Arlington, Texas. Colby Lewis starts Game 3 for the Rangers Saturday night against Jonathan Sanchez.
"I don't think we caught any breaks yet," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "We certainly don't feel like we're defeated. We're heading home. They took care of us in their ballpark, now we're headed to ours."
San Francisco improved to 11-0 against Texas at AT&T Park and got its third shutout in nine postseason wins. The Giants sent the high-octane Rangers offense to its first shutout since Sept. 23.
Not bad for a team that scored 19 runs in its six-game NL championship series win over Philadelphia.
By the ninth inning, giddy fans waving orange pompoms and scarves were chanting "Sweep! Sweep!" A four-game Series would end on a night for the Giants' colors — Halloween.
No team has overcome a 2-0 Series deficit since the 1996 New York Yankees against Atlanta. The Giants have won each time they took a 2-0 lead: in 1922, 1933 and 1954.
"We're not playing the same," said the Nelson Cruz, one of several slumping Rangers. "I don't know what it is. I wish I could tell you. The way we're playing, it's different. It's not us."
