SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco's Pablo Sandoval became the fourth player to hit three home runs in a World Series game.
Sandoval connected twice off Detroit ace Justin Verlander and then in the fifth inning against reliever Al Alburquerque in Game 1 of the Series to join Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson and Albert Pujols as the only players with three homers in a World Series game. Ruth did it in 1926 and '28, Jackson did it in 1977 and Pujols accomplished the feat last year for St. Louis against Texas.
Sandoval added a single in his fourth at-bat against Jose Valverde and his 13 total bases are one shy of Pujols' record for a single Series game.
Sandoval had been benched for four of five games in the Giants' 2010 Series win over Texas.
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