Staters dominate early, Royals bullpen closes game

SAN FRANCISCO – The World Series ceded the stage to the No. 3 starters, and Jeremy Guthrie and Tim Hudson both seized the spotlight.

Game 3 produced a compelling pitching duel into the sixth inning, as Hudson and Guthrie combined to retire 22 consecutive batters before RBI hits by Alex Gordon and Eric Hosmer pushed the Kansas City Royals' edge to 3-0 over the San Francisco Giants in the top of the sixth inning.

And with the Series tied 1-1 and Kansas City's vaunted bullpen looming, those hits may prove to tip the series in the Royals' favor.

Hudson extended his streak of retired batters to 13 before Alcides Escobar's one-out single in the sixth preceded Gordon's drive to the gap in left center field. One out later, Hosmer - celebrating his 25th birthday - stroked a single to center field off lefty reliever Javier Lopez to make it 3-0.

Hudson had a rough beginning, too: Escobar ambushed the first pitch of the game for a double off the left field wall and eventually scored on Lorenzo Cain's groundout.

It was all about the pitchers thereafter. Hudson courted trouble in the second inning, giving up a leadoff single to Mike Moustakas and a walk to Omar Infante, but got Salvador Perez on a fly to left and induced a rare double play ball from the speedy Jarrod Dyson.

Dyson was making his first World Series start – manager Ned Yost opting for his superior speed in AT&T Park's vast expanses – but Guthrie didn't need much from his outfielders. He kept the ball down against the Giants hitters and allowed just two hits through five innings. And Hunter Pence was erased attempting to steal second.

Hudson and Guthrie's streak of dominance was finally broken by Alcides Escobar, whose one-out single in the sixth preceded Gordon's drive into right center field that Gregor Blanco could not run down. Escobar scored easily, and with Guthrie at 67 pitches and the dominant Royals bullpen in wait, Kansas City took a slim – yet comfortable – edge into the late innings.​

Guthrie was removed in the sixth inning after giving up an RBI double to Michael Morse. Buster Posey had a fielder's choice RBI off Kelvin Herrera to make the score 3-2.

That was all the Giants offense could muster. The Royals bullpen closed out Game 3 to take a 2-1 series lead.

GALLERY: WORLD SERIES -- ROYALS vs. GIANTS