2010 World Series Highlights from Texas Rangers' Game 3 Win over San Francisco Giants

Bob Warja@@bobwarjaSenior Writer IOctober 31, 2010

World Series 2010 Highlights from Texas Rangers' Game 3 Win over San Francisco

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    ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 30: Starting pitcher Colby Lewis #48 of the Texas Rangers pitchs against the San Francisco Giants in Game Three of the 2010 MLB World Series at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on October 30, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Step
    Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

    The home cooking was especially tasty for the Texas Rangers on Saturday night, as they finally got on the board to make this a series heading into Game 4 with a 4-2 victory over the Giants in Arlington.

    San Francisco had taken the first two games at home, slugging around Cliff Lee in Game 1 and dominating Texas 9-0 in Game 2.

    Saturday continued the trend of home-field advantage, as the Rangers used two home runs to win and cut the Giants' series lead to 2-1.

    Meanwhile, even college football and the Dallas Cowboys had to take a back seat on a day when the World Series visited Texas for the first time ever. With the Cowboys playing poorly and the Longhorns losing to Baylor, World Series fever has swept the state, and, this time, the Rangers lived up to the billing.

    Let's take a look at the keys to the victory on the eve of Halloween. Don't be scared. Come on in...

Colby Lewis' Pitching Was Scary-Good

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    ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 30: Colby Lewis #48 of the Texas Rangers walks to the dugout in the eigth inning against the San Francisco Giants in Game Three of the 2010 MLB World Series at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on October 30, 2010 in Arlington, Texas.
    Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

    Rangers starter Colby Lewis pitched the first good game of the Series for Texas, allowing only two runs in 7.2 innings. Both runs against him were scored on homers, off the bats of Cody Ross and Andres Torres.

    But unlike Giants starter Jonathan Sanchez, no one was on base when those homers were hit.

The Home Runs

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    ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 30: Mitch Moreland #18 of the Texas Rangers hits a 3-run home run in the bottom of the second inning against the San Francisco Giants in Game Three of the 2010 MLB World Series at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on October 30, 2010
    Christian Petersen/Getty Images

    While the Giants matched the Rangers with two home runs, Rangers outfielder Mitch Moreland's second inning blast came with two on, basically sealing the victory early on for Texas.

    Josh Hamilton hit a wondrous shot of his own in the fifth for good measure.

George Bush

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    ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 30: Former President George W. Bush looks on from his seats prior to the Texas Rangers playing against the San Francisco Giants in Game Three of the 2010 MLB World Series at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on October 30, 2010 in Arl
    Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

    Former President George W. Bush delivered pep talks to several Rangers players before the game, and, according to ESPN's report from the Associated Press, this "psyched" up the Rangers.

    "Bush toured the Texas clubhouse before the game and the former Rangers part-owner visited with individual players," read the AP report.

    Regardless of your political affiliation, this was certainly a treat for the Rangers.

The Rangers Pen Stops Bleeding Runs and Closes It Out

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    CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 12: Neftali Perez #30 of the Texas Rangers throws a pitch in the 10th inning against the Cleveland Indians during Opening Day on April 12, 2010 at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio. Texas won the game 4-2 in 10 innings. (Photo b
    Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

    Yes, the bullpen for the Rangers has been a bloody mess throughout the first two games of the series. But tonight, it was golden, as Darren O'Day got the final out of the eighth inning and closer Neftali Feliz came on to strike out two batters to close out the ninth.

The Rangers Feel Comfortable at Home

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    ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 30: Fans of the Texas Rangers celebrate with a Rangers quilt as the Rangers defeat the San Francisco Giants 4-2 in Game Three of the 2010 MLB World Series at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on October 30, 2010 in Arlington, Texas.
    Christian Petersen/Getty Images

    According to the AP report on ESPN.com, comfort was the word of the day for the Rangers.

    "We wanted to get back home. We felt comfortable here," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "We knew we could finally put a good game together, and we did."

    Rangers starter Colby Lewis agreed.

    I was just really excited to come back home. I knew with these fans out here we had a definite advantage," Lewis said. "It was just a thing of comfort-ability."

    Bet that makes the Giants just a bit uncomfortable right now.

Colby Lewis Throws First Pitch Strikes While Sanchez Has Control Issues

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    ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 30: Starting pitcher Jonathan Sanchez #57 of the San Francisco Giants hands the ball to manager Bruce Bochy after he was taken out of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning against the Texas Rangers in Game Three of the 2010 M
    Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

    Lewis is at his best when he throws first-pitch strikes. And that's exactly what he did in Game 3, throwing first-pitch strikes to 25 of the 30 batters he faced.

    The long rest that was used as an excuse for why Cliff Lee had poor command in Game 1 didn't hold water today, as Lewis threw strikes despite seven days rest.

    Meanwhile, the Rangers got patient after swinging at some early bad pitches, and once they did, they got to Sanchez, who led the MLB in walks this season.

    Hey, even Bengie Molina walked twice, and this guy hardly ever walks.