Sandoval motors home for manufactured Giants run

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Pablo Sandoval felt as if he were falling behind while scoring Saturday's go-ahead run.

"Everybody was laughing," the third baseman said after the Giants' 4-1 victory over a Los Angeles Angels split squad in a Cactus League opener. "My first run was tough. I stepped on third base and home plate was moving away."

The vast ground Sandoval covered in the fourth inning created this optical illusion. After drilling a run-scoring single off Angels right-hander Billy Buckner, Sandoval broke from first base on a 2-1 pitch that Jackson Williams hammered to left field for a double. Not accustomed to spanning three bases at full speed, Sandoval nevertheless scored easily.

Sandoval recognized hints of the 2012 World Series campaign as the Giants manufactured their first run in classic fashion. Angel Pagan singled leading off and stole second base. Marco Scutaro's groundout to second base advanced Pagan to third, from where he scored on Sandoval's single.

"That was our game," Sandoval said. "Marco's going to do his job. Buster [Posey] and I are going to do our jobs and move the guy in."