While there may not be much interest in this year’s World Series from Boston fans (as the Yankees aren’t there to root against and hate with a passion, and the Sox aren’t in it to win it) Red Sox fans are still baseball fans at their core and one thing every baseball fan loves is…the long-ball.

Panda Power: Well, San Francisco Giants 3B Pablo “Kung Fu Panda” Sandoval offered plenty of firepower for San Fran fans and baseball fans alike with not 1, not 2, but 3 homeruns to help the Giants cruise to an 8-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers in game one. San Fran pitcher Barry Zito went 5 and 2/3 innings allowing only 1 earned run and 6 hits.

Shocking Start to the Series: Sandoval and Zito surprisingly outperformed the likes of Triple Crown winner, Tigers 3B/1B Miguel Cabrera and last year’s Cy Young winner/MVP Tigers ace pitcher Justin Verlander (Cabrera went 1 for 3 with an RBI, Verlander gave up five earned runs in just four innings of work).

Historic Highlights: Not only did Sandoval and Zito shine but they made a mark in World Series history. “Kung Fu Panda” and his 3 towering homers added him to a prestigious list of October Sluggers. Sandoval joins Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson, and Albert Pujols as the only players to hit 3 home runs in the World Series.

Meanwhile Zito made history with the help of Tim “The Freak” Lincecum as it marked the 2nd time in World Series history that one Cy Young award winning pitcher came in to relieve another Cy Young Award winner (Zito won it in 2002 with the Oakland A’s, Lincecum in 2008, and 2009 with the Giants). The 1st was in the 1983 World Series when Jim Palmer came in to relieve Mike Flanagan against the Philadelphia Phillies.

When 2 Watch: With the victory the San Francisco Giants lead baseballs fall classic 1-0 over Detroit. Game 2 has both teams back at AT&T Park in San Francisco tonight at 8pm on FOX .