OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Pablo Sandoval has made strides nearly as big as his nickname: Kung Fu Panda.
Sandoval, San Francisco’s slimmed-down, free-swinging slugger, hit an RBI double in the second inning of the Giants’ 4-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night and yet again showed off his improved range at third base from an offseason of rigorous workouts.
He also staked Barry Zito to an early lead. These two are the players on the World Series champions with the most to prove in 2011. Zito was left off the playoff roster for all three postseason rounds last fall during the club’s surprising run to the city’s first championship since moving West in 1958.
