Several of the players on the Giants current roster played at Chukchansi Park with the Grizzlies before making it into the big leagues. The Grizzlies opened up the stadium ... free of charge to fans eager to watch the game on the big screen. Others ... made the trip to San Francisco.
Giants fever is alive and well in the Central Valley and beyond. Wednesday, a few hundred fans enjoyed a scaled-back World Series experience inside Downtown Fresno's Chukchansi Park. Fans had free reign of the field and stadium seating. Upstairs, the 600 Club was reserved for Grizzlies season ticket holders.
In honor of some of their former players, like Buster Posey and Tim Lincecum ... Grizzlies officials plan to open the park for fans every game of the World Series. "They saw them on the field of Chukchansi Park and now they get to see them in the World Series. We'd love to give them a chance to be at Chukchansi Park and see them again."
In Northwest Fresno, fans decked out in their Giants gear packed into the Press Box sports bar. Following the win, they were already forecasting the rest of the series.
"Giants in 4 games. Really? It's too easy....too easy."
"Woo! We're going to win the World Series. Go giants. Woo!"
In San Francisco, Action News caught up with Central Valley fans lucky enough to attend the game. Some people we spoke didn't want to be on camera, confessing ... they skipped out on work just to go.
Tickets are selling for several hundred ... if not, thousands of dollars. A price some say pales in comparison to a possible World Series win for the Giants.
Carol Doyle said, "I am so excited. It's my first world series. I'm so excited I can't stand it!"
Weather permitting, Chukchansi Park will be open throughout the entire series. Parking is free and some of the concession stands are open. The Giants play in San Francisco Thursday at 4:57.
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Sanchez, Giants chase Lee in 11-7 win over Texas
Freddy Sanchez and the San Francisco Giants chased Cliff Lee early, roughing up the postseason ace for an 11-7 victory over the Texas Rangers in the World Series opener Wednesday night.
Tim Lincecum won the marquee matchup between Cy Young Award winners, though neither pitcher was sharp. Lee entered 7-0 with a 1.26 ERA in eight postseason starts but allowed seven runs -- six earned -- in 4 2-3 innings.
Sanchez doubled three times in the first five innings and finished with three RBIs. The Giants knocked Lee out of the game during a six-run fifth that was capped by Juan Uribe's three-run homer off Darren O'Day.
San Francisco, which trailed 2-0, went ahead on Sanchez's run-scoring double in the fifth and spoiled Texas' World Series debut.
