World Series notebook: Bruce Bochy's hunch about left field pays off

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Travis Ishikawa has been the Giants’ primary starter in left field during the playoffs. A left-handed batter, he would certainly be expected to start against a right-handed pitcher like Kansas City’s Jeremy Guthrie.

But Giants manager Bruce Bochy went with right-handed Juan Perez in left field for Game 7. Perez is faster, and he’s a better fielder out there than Ishikawa, who had played only first base before the San Francisco outfield was hit by injuries this year. As Bochy’s decisions usually do, this one paid off in the fifth inning when Perez chased down Nori Aoki’s tailing fly ball at the left-field line with a runner on second. There’s little chance Ishikawa could have caught that ball.

“That’s the first thing I said. I said it before the game even started,” Ishikawa noted in the celebratory post-game clubhouse. “I know exactly why (Perez) was out there. Not only defensive purposes, but even swinging a good bat. He had a couple of big hits earlier. And when I saw that today, I said I’m down 100 percent.”

SEÑOR OCTUBRE AGAIN

If it’s late October, Pablo Sandoval is probably stroking the ball pretty well for the Giants. The World Series MVP of 2012 was at it again this year. After going 3 for 3 with two runs scored against the Royals in Game 7, Sandoval set an MLB record with 26 hits in a single postseason.

The Panda is batting .426 in 12 career World Series games.

“You could see a difference in Pablo once his postseason started,” Bochy said. “His focus, his third base play was as good as I’ve seen from any third baseman.

“That’s what I’m proud of about him, is how he made himself such a good defender.

The only problem for the Giants: Sandoval is a free agent.

“As far as what happens, I don’t know,” Bochy said. “It’s obvious I love this kid, too. I’ve had him since he came up, and hopefully something gets done, but these are things that take care of themselves in the winter.”

CAN’T CHALLENGE EFFORT

One of Bochy’s sharpest decisions Wednesday may have come on the heels of the night’s best defensive play.

With a runner on first and none out in the bottom of the third, Kansas City’s Eric Hosmer hit a ground ball toward second base. Giants second baseman Joe Panik made a fine diving stop and an even better toss (with his glove hand) to second, where shortstop Brandon Crawford spun and threw a dart to first base. Hosmer went in with a headfirst slide and was ruled safe.

Bochy challenged the call and the ruling was changed to a double play when replays showed Belt catch the ball at first a split-second before Hosmer’s hand touched the bag.

“It was unbelievable,” Crawford said of Panik’s play. “He’s such a big part of this team, and I think he’s showing it here in the postseason.”

NOTES:

At 39 years, 107 days, Tim Hudson is the oldest pitcher ever to start Game 7 of the World Series. He was 15 days older than Roger Clemens.

Hudson’s start of 1? innings is the shortest in a World Series Game 7 start since the Yankees right-hander Bob Turley went one inning in a start in 1960.

The last World Series team to have back-to-back starters not make it through the second inning was the 1984 San Diego Padres (Ed Whitson in 2, Tim Lollar in 3). One of the catchers on that team was Bruce Bochy.

Giants reliever Jeremy Affeldt pitched 11? scoreless innings in this postseason. In his past 22 playoff appearances, Affeldt has pitched 23? innings, allowing 11 hits and no runs.

Madison Bumgarner became the second pitcher in the wild card era with at least 20 innings pitched in a World Series, joining Curt Schilling (21? in 2001).

With Derek Jeter retired, the only active player to be on a World Series roster for four winning teams is Giants relief pitcher Javier Lopez. He earned one ring with the Red Sox.