The Kansas City Royals edged out the San Francisco Giants 3-2, today, October 24 in Game 3 of the World Series. The win gives Kansas City a 2-1 lead in the series.

Unlike the two previous games, which both bordered on blowouts, Game 3 was a close, well-played matchup centered around pitching and defense.

Royals’ shortstop Alcides Escobar doubled off of Giants’ starter Tim Hudson on the first pitch of the game. Hudson buckled down to get the next three batters out, but Escobar scored on Lorenzo Cain’s groundout to shortstop to give Kansas City a 1-0 lead.

After that, Hudson and Royals’ starter Jeremy Guthrie were the stars for the next few innings. Guthrie, a Stanford product, pitched five strong innings and only gave up four hits to get the win. Hudson settled down after the first and finished with 5 ⅔ innings pitched, also gaving up four hits.

In the top of the sixth, Hudson gave up an RBI double to left fielder Alex Gordon. That ended Hudson’s night, and San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy turned to his lefty specialist Javier Lopez. Lopez, normally lights out, gave up an RBI single to Royals’ first baseman Eric Hosmer to make the score 3-0.

In the bottom of the inning, San Francisco rallied. Shortstop Brandon Crawford led off with a single, and pinch-hitter Michael Morse doubled him home to make it 3-1 and end Guthrie’s outing. Kansas City manager Ned Yost turned to the first of his shutdown bullpen, Kelvin Herrera, to get out of the inning.

Herrera walked the first batter he faced, Gregor Blanco. Then, second baseman Joe Panik grounded out to move the runners up a base. The next batter, catcher Buster Posey, grounded out to bring Morse home and put the tying run at third base with two outs for third baseman Pablo Sandoval. Sandoval grounded out to end the inning, with the Royals leading 3-2.

After the sixth, both teams’ bullpens were stellar. The Giants’ trio of Sergio Romo, Jeremy Affeldt and Santiago Casilla combined to pitch three innings of one-hit, shutout ball. When Herrera drove up his pitch count in the bottom of the seventh, Yost gave the ball to rookie Brandon Finnegan, who became the first player ever to play in both the College World Series and World Series in the same year. Finnegan was replaced by set-up man Wade Davis, who gave way to closer Greg Holland.

Combined, Herrera, Finnegan, Davis and Holland pitched four innings and gave up no hits.

The series will continue tomorrow, weather permitting, with first pitch at 5 p.m. The Giants will likely have Ryan Vogelsong start, while the Royals will probably send out Jason Vargas.