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Tigers Game 2 Starter Grew Up Rooting For Giants

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- Starting on the road in the World Series is even more special for Doug Fister than taking the mound in Detroit this October.

Fister, Detroit's Game 2 starter, grew up in California -- about 130 miles southeast of San Francisco in the community of Merced. While he may be pitching for the Tigers now, Fister always cheered for the Giants growing up.

"Don't tell anybody," he joked. "I was a Giants fan (and was) able to come to a couple of games when I was little."

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Fister has a 1.35 ERA and two no-decisions this postseason, with Detroit winning both games. In 13 1-3 innings, he has struck out 13 and walked six, although none ever came against his favorite childhood team.

"It's definitely special being able to come into the ballpark and play in a World Series is something that obviously is a moment that will never be forgotten. It holds a little bit more special place in my heart, I would say, but it doesn't change what we do on the field," he told reporters. "It's always been a dream and a goal for me and now it's happening."

While he's excited about starting in Game 2, he admitted being a little anxious about getting up to bat -- since the game is in a National League stadium.

"That's a part of the game that, you know (we pitchers) in the American League really don't get a chance to do very often — only during inner-league and now during the World Series," said Fister. "It's as necessity that everybody, you know, kinda has fun with. But, at the same time, it's a part of the game that you really have to focus."

(Copyright 2012 CBS San Francisco. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved.)

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