Rangers' Moreland watches his three RBI home run during Game 3 of Major League Baseball's World Series against the Giants in Arlington

San Francisco Giants vs. Texas Rangers

Game 3 recap: Texas' sluggers overpowered the Giants Saturday to win Game 3 of the World Series 4-2.

Giants starter Jonathan Sanchez struggled early, allowing a three-run Mitch Moreland homer in the bottom of the second. He recovered and stayed in until the fifth inning, when Josh Hamilton hit a solo home run off of him and Bruce Bochy decided to turn to the bullpen.  

Offensively, the Giants just couldn’t get anything going. Cody Ross and Andres Torres each hit solo homers, but it wasn’t enough to keep up with the Rangers. Even the Giants' best bats fell short. The normally reliable Buster Posey struck out twice with runners on base to end the inning.

Colby Lewis pitched a great game for Texas. He allowed just five hits in 7.2 innings and finished with an ERA of 2.35. With the win, Lewis improved to 3-0 this postseason.

The Rangers' victory narrowed San Francisco's series lead to 2-1 with Game 4 scheduled to take place Sunday. Rookie Madison Bumgarner will start for the Giants against Tommy Hunter.

Key moment: Posey’s groundout in the eighth inning with the tying run on base (Aubrey Huff, who was hit by a wild pitch from Lewis) ended the inning and effectively killed San Francisco’s chance for a comeback. 
 
Game changer: Nelson Cruz came up with a huge double in the second inning off of Sanchez, sliding into second base with nano-seconds to spare and setting up Mitch Moreland’s three-run homer. The Giants were fielding well until Cruz knocked the ball over Torres’ head, sending Ranger fans to their feet and momentum swinging in their direction.

Play of the game: Moreland’s homer; the first Texas home run in World Series play.

Unsung hero: Rangers closer Neftali Feliz made short of work of the Giants in his first World Series appearance. The 22-year-old righty set down the Giants 1-2-3 in the ninth inning to became the second-youngest pitcher to log a World Series save.

Quotes of the game: “When we win, it’s the real Rangers. When we lose it’s the fake version.” – Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler when asked if “the real Rangers” came out to play in Game 3.

“It’s a bad time to struggle.” — Giant Pat Burrell, whose manager Bruce Bochy agrees.  Burrell has been removed from the Game 4 starting lineup after going 0-9 with eight strikeouts in this World Series.

To reach writer Kate Rooney, click here.

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