Luck turns for Tigers' Fister in 2-0 loss

• Doug Fister gives up only one run in six-plus innings
• The Tigers' starter takes a line drive off his head but stays in the game
• He is still winless in his three postseason starts

SAN FRANCISCO -- Doug Fister could consider himself lucky Thursday night. Then again, he could consider himself unlucky.

The Detroit Tigers right-hander was hit in the right side of the head by a line drive off the bat of San Francisco Giants left fielder Gregor Blanco in the second inning of Game 2 of the World Series at AT&T Park.

The ball caromed into center field for a single, but Fister was able to stay in the game after being examined by Tigers head athletic trainer Kevin Rand.

However, his luck ran out in the end.

Fister allowed only one run in six-plus innings but suffered the loss as the San Francisco Giants edged the Tigers 2-0 to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

The 6-foot-8 Fister allowed just four hits, struck out three and walked one. However, the ground single to left field that he gave up to Hunter Pence to begin the bottom of the seventh inning of a scoreless tie proved costly.

Rookie left-hander Drew Smyly relieved Fister and walked Brandon Belt. Blanco then tried to sacrifice the runners up a base but instead would up with a single when his bunt down the third-base line stayed fair.

With the bases loaded, Brandon Crawford grounded into a double play that plated Pence with the game's first run.

Fister has yet to win any of three postseason starts, but it has been little fault of his own. He allowed just three runs in 19 1/3 innings for a 1.40 ERA but is 0-1.

After taking the line drive off his head in the second, play stopped for the Tigers' medical staff came out to take a look. They asked him, Fister said, where he was, and what game he was in.

"I didn't see any stars, I didn't have a headache," Fister said. "I told them there are two runners on, two out, it's Game 2," Fister said. "And I'm going to get the third out."

After walking the next batter, Crawford, Fister retired the next 12 batters.

"My dad's saying has always said, if I get hit in the head I'm OK," Fister said. "For me it's just a mindset. You're not going t take me out of the game.

"I knew where I was. There's just a little bump, and maybe some laces."

Fister has been hit by two more line drives than he has wins in this postseason.

New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano lined a shot off Fister's right wrist in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series. Fister also was able to shake that off and went on to pitch 6 1/3 scoreless innings in a game the Tigers eventually won in 12 innings.

Fister also had some tough luck in his first full season with the Tigers as he went 10-10 in 26 starts despite a solid 3.45 ERA.

Fister came up big for Detroit last season after being acquired July 30 from the Seattle Mariners in a six-player trade, going 8-1 with a 1.79 ERA in 11 games, 10 starts. He then went 2-1 with a 4.76 ERA in three postseason games, two of which were starts.