DETROIT — The Detroit Tigers were shut out twice in 162 regular-season games.
They have been shut out by the Giants in each of the past two World Series games, which is why San Francisco is on the brink of winning its second championship in three years after going 54 years without one.
The Giants blanked the Tigers 2-0 on Saturday night in Game 3 at Comerica Park to take a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. No team has ever come back from being down 3-0 to win a World Series.
San Francisco right-handers Ryan Vogelsong, Tim Lincecum and Sergio Romo combined on a five-hitter.
Vogelsong worked the first 5 2/3 innings to raise his record to 3-0 in the postseason. Deposed starter Lincecum followed with 2 1/3 innings. Romo pitched a perfect ninth for his second save of the World Series and third of the postseason.
Vogelsong is 3-0 with a 1.09 ERA in four postseason starts, allowing three runs in 24 2/3 innings. In his past seven starts overall, he is 5-0 with a 0.86 ERA.
The Giants have won six consecutive games, dating to Game 5 of the National League Championship Series, and have outscored their opponents 32-4 in that span.
The Giants also have four shutouts during the streak. That ties the record for the most in a single postseason, held by three teams, two of them Giants — the 1905 New York club and 2010 San Francisco squad. The 1998 New York Yankees also have a share of the mark.
Vogelsong gave up five walks and four hits but was able to keep the Tigers from scoring. He struck out three.
The 35-year-old journeyman got the Tigers to hit into inning-ending double plays in the first and third innings with runners on first and second. Fielder grounded into the twin killing in the first, and Quintin Berry ended the third-inning rally.
The Tigers loaded the bases with one out in the fifth, but Vogelsong struck out Berry, then got American League Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera to hit an inning-ending popout to the shortstop.
The Giants scored two runs in the second inning off Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez, who had been 2-0 with a 0.94 ERA in his past four starts overall, including 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA in two postseason starts.
Hunter Pence drew a four-pitch walk to start the second, stole second base, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Gregor Blanco’s triple to deep center field. Brandon Crawford blooped a two-out single to center to drive in Blanco.
Except for that inning, Sanchez pitched well, allowing just six hits in seven innings. He had eight strikeouts and only the walk to Pence.
Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval went 2-for-4 and extended his hitting streak to nine games. He is 16-for-37 (.432) during the streak.
Game 4 is set for Sunday at 8:15 p.m. ET with Matt Cain pitching for San Francisco against Max Scherzer.